The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 16, 2024

Animal-Headed Figure Pendant

Animal-Headed Figure Pendant

1–800 CE
cast gold
Overall: 5.5 x 3.9 x 1.9 cm (2 3/16 x 1 9/16 x 3/4 in.)
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, gift of their daughter Helen 1947.15
Location: 233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region

Description

The same creature, with a human body but the head of an animal, appears in both pendants. It holds batons to its mouth, and whiskers or ears flare from the sides of the head. The headdress domes are mystifying; they have been described as mushrooms or gourds, among other things.
  • John Wise, Ltd.
    (John Wise, Ltd.)
  • Shamanism. Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino, Santiago, Chile (organizer) (December 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) https://museo.precolombino.cl/2022/12/12/chamanismo-visiones-fuera-del-tiempo-la-nueva-exposicion-del-museo-chileno-de-arte-precolombino/.
    Treasures of Peruvian Gold. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (February 23-April 3, 1966).
    Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art; February 23-April 3, 1966. "Treasures of Peruvian Gold."
    Dallas, TX:Neiman-Marcus Co.; October 19-31, 1959. "South American Fortnight." cat. no. 24.
  • {{cite web|title=Animal-Headed Figure Pendant|url=false|author=|year=1–800 CE|access-date=16 September 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1947.15