Panel Discussion: Turquoise Mosaics

Monday, May 21, 2012 | 6 pm

The exhibition Children of the Plumed Serpent: The Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Ancient Mexico, features several extraordinary examples of turquoise mosaic objects. Turquoise, a luxury material not native to Central or Southern Mexico, was imported into the region from the American Southwest. This panel discussion explores the significance of turquoise and its role in the Postclassic economy with respect to specific artworks featured in the exhibition. Scholars discuss recent findings regarding the available sources of turquoise, the development of the trade routes, and the manufacturing technologies. Participants include Karl Taube (UC Riverside), Frances Berdan (California State University, San Bernardino), Sue Scott (University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa), Alyson Thibodeau (University of Arizona), and Adrián Velazquez and Emiliano Melgar (Museo del Templo Mayor).

Brown Auditorium | Free, no reservations

Image: Turquoise-mosaic Disk, Mexico, 1300–1521, Museo del Tempo Mayor, Mexico City.