Mirror Bearer - Mayan Art

The Maya Galleries in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is home to one of the rarest Mayan figures ever excavated from Mesoamerica. The "Mirror Bearer" is a small figurine crafted from wood and it dates back to the 6th century. This figurine is in incredible condition considering there are not many wooden pieces that have survived the humidity of South America.
This wooden figure has drawn a lot of interest because of its posture. The figure is kneeling, with its arms crossed and fists pushed into the chest. This is said to indicate that this person was holding a mirror, specifically pointed at the ruler. When we think mirror, we think flat glass surface but in the case of ancient Mayan civilizations the reflective surface they referred to as mirrors were actually obsidian or pyrite stones fashioned in a mosaic. The mirror holder and mirrors specifically have a large symbolic meaning to the Mayans. Holding a mirror to the king is a way to reflect his divinity and royalty. The reflection would allow him to see himself and his displays of power. The mirror is thought to have a cosmological or spiritual importance to the Mayans. It was said to serve as a way to see the future (divining), making decisions in the royal court, or even a portal into other worlds.
Interestingly enough, this figure and figure like this were said to represent actual people who would serve as mirror holders in divine court. In may cases these people were those who had genetic dwarfism. These dwarfs were seen as desireable and important people to have in your divine courtroom. Dr. James Doyle and Dr. Beth Harris, "Mirror-Bearer," in Smarthistory, February 7, 2017, accessed November 18, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/mirror-bearer/.

Comments

  1. Luna VelarNovember 19, 2020 at 12:57 PM

    Hi Jeremy!

    I really liked all of the background you give to your post. It's very well-written and well organized. I really enjoyed how you described the difference in the the way we see mirrors today and how they had mirrors back then. I wonder why dwarfs were seen as desirable an important? Overall really great post!

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  2. Ashley MNovember 21, 2020 at 1:21 PM

    The story of this piece was probably my favorite of this section. I love how the mirror bearer was actually held in high regard for having a genetic difference. That is totally opposite of what you see in today's society. I suppose the attention may have been a little too much for some, but at least it was positive. One thing that I found interesting was that the mirror would have been a reflective surface that was pieced together in a mosaic. I would think this would split the reflection into fractals so, I imagine, the person would have a supernatural-like appearance.

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  3. UnknownNovember 22, 2020 at 10:20 PM

    Hello Jeremy!

    Wow this was a very cool blog to read about the wood carved figure, the Mirror Bearer from the Mayans! I found it to be very interesting that obsidian or pyrite stones were thought to be used as mirrors! I think that also shows the significance of how advanced the Mayan culture truly was for it's time. Recently I have done quite a bit of research into the Mayan colander, which is also one of the most advanced ideas from the society as well. I am curious if the Museum knows what type of wood was used for this particular piece? Depending on the species of the tree it was from, can also help indicate how long it may keep it's shape and condition.
    -Autumn Fink

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