Sun Stone Replica Appraisal

Modern Huichol-Style Aztec Sun Stone Yarn Painting

This item is a decorative textile artwork, likely a yarn painting (Nierika), featuring a contemporary interpretation of the Aztec Sun Stone or Calendar Wheel. The piece is constructed using vibrant dyed wool or acrylic yarns pressed onto a flat surface, traditionally a wooden board coated with beeswax and resin. The central motif depicts a stylized visage of Tonatiuh, the sun deity, with a protruding tongue flanked by circular earspools. Surrounding the center are concentric bands representing various esoteric symbols, animal heads, and cardinal points rendered in a palette of electric blue, ochre yellow, clay red, and cream white. The outermost ring includes two profiles of feathered deities facing one another at the bottom. The craftsmanship exhibits clean, bold outlines created by contrasting yarn colors. The condition appears fair to good, with some visible rippling or warping of the substrate and minor fraying at the edges, suggesting it may have been stored without a frame. The style is indicative of late 20th-century Mexican folk art, blending traditional Huichol yarn techniques with pan-Mesoamerican iconography. While no maker's mark is visible in the frame, the density of the thread lay and the complexity of the geometric patterns indicate a skilled artisan hand.