The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 17, 2024

Pair of Ear Ornaments

Pair of Ear Ornaments

c. 1200–1519
obsidian, crystal
Overall: 2.5 x 2.2 cm (1 x 7/8 in.)
Gift of James C. Gruener in memory of his wife, Florence Crowell Gruener 1983.191
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

These obsidian ear ornaments look black but have a golden sheen.

Description

This set of ear ornaments, each with a rock crystal insert, is said to have been found with a pendant made of jade and gold (1983.190). They may come from a buried offering or the tomb of an Aztec noble.
  • ?-1966
    (André Emmerich, Inc., New York, NY, 1966, sold to James C. and Florence C. Gruener)
    1966-1983
    James C. Gruener [1903-1990], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1983-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Turner, Evan H. "Year in Review for 1983." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 71, no. 2 (1984): 38-79. Referenced: cat. no. 221, p. 76 www.jstor.org
    Young-Sánchez, Margaret. "The Gruener Collection of Pre-Columbian Art." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 79, no. 7 (1992): 234-75. p. 273, no. 110 www.jstor.org
  • The Year in Review for 1983. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 22-April 8, 1984).
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Ear Ornaments|url=false|author=|year=c. 1200–1519|access-date=17 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1983.191