Jaguar Knight – Lord of the Forests
This piece has been nominated for the
2009 Arizona Governor’s Commission of the Arts Awards.
Kiln-formed and cold worked glass disc.
Displayed on custom made wrought-iron stand.
Can be available formed as a bowl.
17″ large, 22″ high, 4″ deep
Glass disc 16″ diameter
Limited edition of 15.
Almost sold out!! One disk on stand and one bowl left.
Of all the big cats, the jaguar remains the least studied because they are extremely rare. The reason for this will be explained later.
What is known about jaguars is that they are solitary animals, meeting only to mate. The young stay with their mother for a few years before leaving to find their own territory. At about three years, they are fully mature and able to mate. An adult jaguar weights from 200 to 250 pounds, making him the largest cat in the Americas. A jaguar fur is generally yellowish brown with black spots. Some jaguars are black with black spots and are called blacks panthers.
Jaguars are found mainly in Mexico, Central, and South America where they live in forests and swamplands. Jaguars are excellent swimmers. They hunt at night for forests and river animals such as deer, pigs, sloth, fishes, and even small alligators.
Today, the jaguar is officially listed as endangered species in the US, South and Central America and Mexico. Although there are conservation efforts, criminal activities like poaching and illegal fur trade still reduces numbers and continues to make the future of the jaguar uncertain.
The jaguar is a common symbol of strength and power in Central and South America. Like the lion in Europe and Africa, jaguars were associated with royalty and bravery in warfare. In Maya civilization, the jaguar served to communicate between the living and the dead as well as protect the royal household.
The Aztec civilization had the image of the jaguar associated to the ruler and the warrior. Warriors were highly honored and a jaguar helmet was considered as a protection. This is best seen in the elite military order of the Jaguar Knights who also convened for worship of Tonatiuh, the Sun God. According to Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh looks after warriors, particularly those who die in his service and rule the present Age of the World.
The central design of this piece represents a Jaguar Knight wearing his protective jaguar helmet. On the border, the jaguars are kneeled around the Sun God, Tonatiuh as a sign of worship and reverence. The jaguar design is from Oaxaca, and the sun design is from Veracruz.
This piece (and others like it) is available for sale in my 1000 markets shop.
© 2009 – O’Neill Glass Art and Patricia C. O’Neill. Photo credit Lynne Carlton/2C Imagery.
