Small lacquer tea bowl with green, light orange and brown designs on an orange-red background. Interior of bowl is solid orange-red. On top and bottom of central design there is a border featuring lines of alternating orange-red and brown stripes around green triangles, on a brown background. The central design is set against a background with small green fish scale shapes and large animals and beings. One of these figures is a peacock with a bowed head depicted in orange-red, light orange and brown. Also depicted in orange-red, light orange and brown is a leopard or some other type of cat with spots on its body. Another figure has a human-like torso and peacock-like lower portion of body. One of this figure’s arms is raised menacingly. This hybrid figure is followed by a different hybrid. It has a human-like torso and deer-like legs. The human-deer wears a sash around its waist. Its arms are also raised. Interspersed throughout these large figures are smaller figures possibly representing birds or flora. On the bottom of the bowl is a small foot with a brown interior. The remaining surface of the bottom is solid orange-red.

Small lacquer bowl adorned with brown, yellow and green design. The interior of the bowl is painted solid orange-red. Both top and bottom of central design are bordered by a small series of bands. Firstly, there are alternating orange-red and brown stripes, then non-linear yellow lines that resemble waves. then another band of stripes. The central design has orange-red fish scales shapes against brown to form the background. There are green and yellow vine and leaf patterns set over this background. Evenly spaced within these patterns are brown circles. In the brown circles are sitting animals in frontal view. These creatures have long necks and small ears. The bottom of the bowl is solid orange-red.

Small lacquer tea bowl with black and orange designs on an orange-red background. Around the top and bottom of the central design there is a band of black and light orange alternating stripes, then a band of black triangles on a light orange background and then another band of stripes. The central design has a paisley or vine motif throughout. Also depicted are three black elephants in profile. They appear to be running. The interior of the bowl and the bottom of the bowl are painted in solid orange-red.

Large lacquer tea bowl with intricate designs around perimeter. The object was donated with a maker’s card which describes its makers and place of origin. The designs around the perimeter were taken from reliefs in Bagan Temple, Burma. The central design is bordered on top and bottom by small patterns in orange-red and green against a black background. These borders depict small beings - such as deer, fish and elephants - within intricate frames. The central design features Buddha in various standing and sitting poses. There is also a large, reclining elephant depicted. The elephant wears a hat and a cloth over its back. In each pose, the Buddha’s hands and feet are in very specific positions. He wears a variety of clothing from one figure to the next but his elaborate head dress remains the same. The various positions include: sitting on his knees, pouring tea, receiving tea, sitting cross-legged, sitting on knees holding a bat, standing with palms pressed together and standing with one arm upraised. On the bottom of the bowl, orange-red lines form a circular border containing text written in green. This circle is open in a small section. There is a standing bird with a long tail within the border with text. The interior of the bowl is painted solid black.

A dark brown wooden staff with a metal tip and cap, fitted with two metal bands, and a metal figure of Jesus Christ attached to the shaft. The figure has short metal chains attached to his hands, which are tipped with ruby-like gems, or pieces of glass. A metal hook/clasp has also been added to the staff. It is hinged and shaped to rest flush against the cylindrical shaft. Hanging from this hook/clasp is a metal cross that has been inlayed with an emerald-coloured stone in the middle and ruby-coloured stones on the leaf shapes of the arms and base of the cross. The head, or top, of the staff is capped with metal and inset with a dark blue, oblong stone. The rim of the head has been decorated with a fringe of pentagonal, dart-shaped discs that are attached to the staff with small jump rings. The head of the staff has also been incised with three rows of illegible text.

The handle of the whip is made out of wood and it has been capped in metal sheeting at the ends. There are also five metal bands along the shaft. The metal ends and the bands have been secured with three small nails in each. The bands and one of the ends have been perforated with small holes. The top end of the handle has been fitted with a metal ring that supports a short and tightly braided leather loop. There is a hole through the metal tip at the bottom of the handle and a leather strap has been attached through this hole. The leather strap, the stock, supports a long length of tightly braided leather rope. This leather rope, the thong, ends with a small fringe. It has been twisted, the leather has stiffened, and it will no longer straighten.

Agricultural implement made from a tree branch. The two forks of the tool have been secured with leather strapping. The wood has been finished with a type of lacquer. The wood shaft of the pitchfork is cracked in several places.

THE MOSTRADOR
At banquets and other social occasions, mostradores—flights of steps covered with rich textiles (seen at upper left of illustration)— displayed a household’s finest and most valuable objects. These pieces of furniture were particularly ideal for showcasing silver and gilt-silver trays. Imported porcelain, glass, ivory, and lacquer objects were also ostentatiously exhibited, alongside locally made lacquerware and earthenware cups. In Mexico, round lacquerware trays (bateas), often decorated with religious and mythological subjects, coats of arms, or chinoiserie (Chinese motifs), were particularly prized.

Mostradores were also temporarily assembled in the family chapels of local churches, where the elite would display their costly possessions during important religious ceremonies such as the baptism of a new heir.


EL MOSTRADOR
En banquetes y otros eventos sociales, los mostradores—estantes de forma escalonada cubiertos con lujosos textiles (ver en la parte superior izquierda de la ilustración)—servían para lucir los objetos más finos y valiosos de la casa. Estos muebles eran especialmente idóneos para exhibir platería y objetos de plata dorada. Piezas de porcelana importada, vidrio, marfil y objetos en laca también eran ostentosamente expuestos, junto a loza vidriada y vasos de arcillas aromáticas de producción local. En México, las bandejas redondas de laca (bateas), a menudo decoradas con temas religiosos y mitológicos, escudos de armas o chinoiserie (adornos chinos), eran especialmente apreciadas.

Los mostradores también se montaban temporalmente en las capillas familiares de las iglesias locales, donde la élite exhibía sus bienes más preciados durante las ceremonias religiosas importantes como el bautismo de un nuevo heredero.

Artist's rendition of a pair of glasses, with thick lenses and a crafted decorative frame painted brown, gold, red and black.

Artist's rendition of a pair of glasses with green plastic lenses and an elaborate crafted decorative frame painted brown, gold, red, white, yellow and black.