Typical of representations in Aztec art of eagle-warriors the figure wears a loincloth or maxtlatl, a winged cloak decorated with white stars and his head protrudes from a beaked headdress, also decorated with stars, representing the head of a bird of prey. Interestingly, the figure is himself clutching the knife with both hands. The mosaic tesserae are attached using pine and copal resin which is also used in places as a decorative inlay. The lips and gums of the smiling warrior are dramatically picked out using orange-red shell.
Other details picked out in malachite, conch and mother-of-pearl include jewellery such as bracelets, anklets, a chest decoration, and a nose ornament. Fine details such as eyes, teeth and fingernails are rendered using even smaller tesserae of dark green malachite and three different shell types: white conch ( Strombus sp.), thorny oyster ( Spondylus princeps) and mother-of-pearl ( Pinctada mazatlantica). The figure is covered in mosaic made from small pieces of pale blue turquoise. The handle of the knife has been carved to resemble a crouching figure who wears the ritual costume of an Aztec eagle-warrior or cuauhtliocelotl, one of the most senior Aztec military ranks and also translated as eagle-jaguar. Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright)
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