Nahua Otomi Teponaztli - slit drum

Object/Artifact

-

International Museum of Art & Science

Name/Title

Nahua Otomi Teponaztli - slit drum

Entry/Object ID

2025.01.028

Description

This is a cylindrical, hollowed wooden slit drum known as a teponaxtli, hand-carved from a single log of hardwood. The drum features two parallel carved slits on the underside, forming a resonating chamber typical of traditional Mesoamerican slit drums. The exterior bears incised decorative motifs, likely symbolic or floral patterns, repeated in a symmetrical arrangement. The wood shows a natural reddish-brown tone, and surface wear suggests frequent use or prolonged handling.

Made/Created

Time Period

1980s

Ethnography

Cultural Region

* Untyped Cultural Region

Sierra de Puebla Region; Puebla, Mexico

Culture/Tribe

Otomi, Nahua

Dimensions

Length

19-3/4 in

Diameter

6-3/4 in