slave

This female slave, wears a slightly different type of clothing, the least elaborate in design of all of the others in this row of figures, but it may be that the artist neglected to decorate her bodice. The cord or yoke attached to a collar on her neck is an indicator of her slave status. (See images of slaves from other manuscripts in a Mexicolore publication on line, https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/kids/aztec-slaves.) Given the the significant covering of the body, we know that she is a woman. The pointed bodice piece may be a quechquemitl, which was a woman’s blouse. A slave woman such as this would have been expected to cook, clean, and provide other domestic and possibly sexual duties. This woman was sold by Huexotzinco to obtain gold for the making of the banner with the Madonna and child. [SW]