TLALOC and deals MIQUIZTLI~Popoxcomitl~Copal burner~Resin Burner~ Ceremonial Incense Burner~ Hand made~

~Popoxcomitl~Mexica~Aztec~Ceremonial Incense Burner
Tlaloc and Miquiztli
Designed by me
Made by Artisan Master Martinez in the state of Mexico

After working with the element of fire for many years I decided to design ceremonial incense burners with symbolic traditional figures as they relate to . This particular style is inspired of some found in archeological sites and currently displayed in museums. These incense burners were hand crafted by Maestro Artesano Martinez (Artisan Master Martinez) who is a well respected, experienced, and talented artisan and artist specializing in pre-hispanic replicas and art. The clay utilized to make these incense burners are from the state of Mexico. It is a special type of clay to tolerate heat. The incense burners are then fired outdoors inside a brick room. Any dark marks on the incense burners are a result of its firing process. There is an extensive process for each of these pieces of art and no two will ever be exactly the same.

Popoxcomitl, one of the native American languages of Mexico, translates to "smoking vessel" in English or "sahumador" in Spanish, has been used for hundreds and possibly thousands of years in America. Popoxcomitl is mostly referred to in Spanish as "sahumador or copalero". Sahumador refers to the action of smudging and copalero refers to the container deals of copal (resin used to burn for ceremonial purposes).
Throughout Mexico several popoxcomitl artifacts have been found. Some made of clay, stone, and volcanic rock. Popoxcomitl was and is one of the most important objects used in ceremonies. Ceremonies can be for not only purposes for purification and cleansing the energic body, but also for any other ceremony where prayer is said. It is believed that the smoke which emerges once fire makes contact with the copal resin, carries the prayer to the cosmos for it to be manifested.
Popoxcomitl were made in different forms with different designs and symbols on them.
Charcoal discs are placed inside the recipient. They are then lit and once hot, very small pieces are placed over the hot charcoal discs. Smoke will emerge from the incense burner. The smell depends on the resin or herb being burned.

The symbols on this incense burner:

Miquiztli
Death or known as Miquiztli in Nahuatl (a native American language in Mexico) is symbolic. It is the representation of transition, change, transformation.... Death as viewed by the Mexica (a native group of Mexico) was not bad or sad. It is the transformation we will all face one day. Life and Death are one... each on a different side of the same coin.

Tlaloc
Tlaloc in the Mexica culture (native American of Mexico) has been an important representation of rain, the element necessary for life on this planet. In pre-hispanic times and even now, ceremonies are held to honor Tlaloc, especially due to crops. In some parts of Mexico, people still depend on rain for food. Tlaloc is sometimes referred as "rain god". In the Mexica and other groups in Mexico, there were no "gods". They were representations of elements and natural forces.

Measurements (approximate)
Height- 9½ inches
Opening diameter- 4½ inches
Depth- inches