Vintage Copper and Enamel Mexico Aztec Plate Wall Hanging 1970s 11”

This is a striking vintage decorative plate featuring a vibrant, enameled representation of the Aztec Sun Stone, a famous artifact of immense cultural and historical importance. Discovered in Mexico City in 1790, the original basalt stone was not a functioning calendar as its nickname suggests, but rather a ceremonial altar dedicated to the sun god, Tonatiuh. Its intricate carvings are a map of the Aztec cosmos, telling the story of the five successive worlds, or "suns," from their mythology. The central face represents the current era, the Fifth Sun, surrounded by glyphs for the previous four eras that were each destroyed by cataclysmic events. A testament to the Aztec's astronomical knowledge and religious beliefs, the Sun Stone was a symbol of cosmic order, royal power, and the cyclical nature of time. This particular piece, with its beautiful, detailed artistry and embossed "MEXICO" inscription, celebrates the enduring legacy of this powerful and mysterious civilization.