Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Nose Ornament

Calima-Yotoco

Not on view

Calima leaders of the Yotoco period wore resplendent regalia in life and in death. The faces depicted on the diadem and pectoral have nose and ear ornaments, revealing how these objects would have been worn in life. The ruler’s regalia also included cuffs and greaves (shin armor), giving the overall effect of a body covered in gold. As the wearer moved, the accoutrements would have shimmered and made sound. A gold-sheathed spear thrower was a final embellishment, the ultimate symbol of luxury and authority.




Durante el período Yotoco, los líderes del valle de Calima llevaban, tanto en la vida como en la muerte, resplandecientes ropajes y objetos suntuarios de orfebrería. Las narigueras y orejeras que adornan los rostros retratados en la diadema y el pectoral muestran la manera en la que se llevaban puestos. Los ropajes del líder incluían también grebas y puños, dando así una visión general de lo que hubiera sido un cuerpo recubierto de oro. Al moverse, sus accesorios seguramente brillaban y resonaban. La vaina de oro de un lanzadardos era una decoración final, símbolo supremo de opulencia y autoridad.

Nose Ornament, Gold, Calima-Yotoco

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.