Mexico, ca. 18th century. This lady's cigarette case was woven from fine threads extracted from the spear-shaped fronds of the maguey plant famous as the basis of mezcal and tequila. Known as "ixtle" in Nahuatl (the language of the Aztec), this fiber had been used in Mesoamerica for over 2000 years for garments, wraps and chords. This exceptional example is adorned with glass beads so tiny and difficult to work they earned a reputation in the Colonial Era as "blind beads." Glass beads, silk and ixtle fiber. Size: 3.75" L (9.5 cm)

Illustrations of similar pieces are from La Chaquira en Mexico by the Franz Mayer Museum, 1998.

Provenance: Ex-Historia Antiques, James Caswell, Santa Monica, CA.

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#110081

Minor wear along edges, as shown, else excellent.