Artwork Page for Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

Details / Information for Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

400–1000

Isthmian Region (Colombia), Sinú (Zenú), 5th century-11th century

Medium
gold, cast
Measurements
Overall: 11.4 x 7.2 x 6 cm (4 1/2 x 2 13/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2015.3
Public Domain
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Location
233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region
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Did You Know?

A museum visitor corrected our identification of this bird!

Description

This gold finial fit over the end of a staff, an emblem of rank. The bird has the hooked beak of a raptor—perhaps the harpy eagle, the “king” of tropical forests. The enormous crest, however, may be inspired by the Royal Flycatcher, a smaller bird that fans its unique, brilliantly colored crest during mating.
A cast gold sculpture depicts a bird perched on a curved base. Facing right, the bird features large, spiraling eyes and a hooked beak. A wide crest of narrow gold strips fans out atop the head, tipped with open circles. Circular holes pattern the chest, and the legs end in ribbed feet. The golden surface has a pitted, matte texture, while the hollow base flares at the end with a braided rim.

Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

400–1000

Isthmian Region (Colombia), Sinú (Zenú), 5th century-11th century

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