ticketsMember | Make a donation

Pendant Figure

2nd century BCE–3rd century CE
Not on view
Spondylus, the shell of a thorny oyster native to the warm coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean, is a vibrant red-orange color that caused it to become a highly valued material collected and traded in ancient Mesoamerica and beyond. Primarily used as a material for carving jewelry, its preciousness and value are confirmed by its repeated presence in the tombs of important individuals. This small sculpture, probably a pendant that hung on a necklace strung with spondylus beads, depicts a bare-chested male figure wearing a turban, earspools, armbands, and loincloth. Despite the challenge of working in a material with very limited depth, the carver of this object skillfully created the illusion of volume in the face and, to a certain extent, within the body of the figure.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pendant Figure
  • Date: 2nd century BCE–3rd century CE
  • Geography: Mexico, Mesoamerica, Colima
  • Culture: Colima
  • Medium: Shell (spondylus)
  • Dimensions: H. 3 1/8 × W. 1 3/8 × D. 5/8 in. (7.9 × 3.5 × 1.6 cm)
  • Classification: Shell-Ornaments
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and Gifts in honor of Carol R. Meyer, 1985
  • Object Number: 1985.260
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Feathered serpent pendant, Mexica artist(s), Shell, Mexica (Aztec)
Feathered serpent pendant
Mexica artist(s)
1325–1521 CE
Rain god pendant, Mexica artist(s), Greenstone, Mixtec
Rain god pendant
Mexica artist(s)
1325–1521 CE
Pendant, Mixtec (Ñuu Savi) artist(s), Greenstone, Mixtec
Pendant
Mixtec (Ñuu Savi) artist(s)
1300–1521 CE
Fish Pendant, Shell, Colima
Fish Pendant
Colima
2nd century BCE–3rd century CE
Coatimundi Pendant, Shell (spondylus), Colima
Coatimundi Pendant
Colima
2nd century BCE–3rd century CE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.