Cuauhxicalli repurposed as baptismal font

Originally an Aztec cuauhxicalli, this carved basin was converted into a Baptismal font either by Franciscan or Dominican friars. The top border with the repeating Aztec speech glyph bears striking resemblance to the Franciscan cord. The current base used to support the basin is a contemporary structure and not included in the photography. This fascinating artefact was included in Contested Visions in the Spanish Colonial World, an exhibition curated by Ilona Katzew at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Nov., 2011 - Jan., 2012. Its stated original provenance is the church of San Juan Evangelista & La Guadalupe, largely a 17th century structure located in Insurgentes Mixcoac at the South end of the Parque Hundido.