caja (FCbk12fir)

This iconographic example, featuring a black and white sketch of two chests (caja, the loanword that entered Nahuatl from Spanish)), is included in this digital collection for the purpose of making comparisons with related hieroglyphs. There is no gloss, per se, and no relevant text nearby. This example shows two different types of chests or trunks that apparently came off of one or more of the Spanish ships in the harbor that is visible in the contextualizing image. The one on the right has a darker color, a rounded top, a wooden external structure, and a locking mechanism. The one on the left is a white, flat box with a locking mechanism. The left end is shaded and casts a shadow, adding to the three-dimensionality that Nahua tlacuilos learned from European art teachers. Apparently, there is a bundle behind the two chests.