Bird-shaped ornament

1–700 CE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 362

Compared to the large quantities of spectacular metal objects found in lavish elite burials of Peru's Moche people, the tombs of the contemporary Nazca people of the south have yielded few gold objects. Usually of simple design and technique such as these sheet gold ornaments, perhaps made to embellish textiles, representations share similarities with the imagery painted on Nazca ceramics. Here the creature may depict a composite supernatural that has been called a "cat demon" or a "trophy head taster." The distinctive wavy lines on the tail feathers identify the body, wings, and tail as those of a falcon, while the head and rear paws are thought to be of a feline, perhaps the pampas cat often portrayed with a protruding tongue. Versions of this figure on Nazca ceramics commonly wear feline mouth masks with long whiskers ending in loops. The spirals flanking the tongue on the present ornaments may be a reference to the feline mouth mask.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Bird-shaped ornament
Artist: Nasca artist(s)
Date: 1–700 CE
Geography: Peru, South Coast
Culture: Nasca
Medium: Gold
Dimensions: H. 4 7/8 × W. 4 7/8 × D. 1/8 in. (12.4 × 12.4 × 0.3 cm)
Classification: Metal-Ornaments
Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Object Number: 1979.206.511
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

By Nasca artist(s)

In the same gallery

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Spout-and-bridge bottles with stepped design, Nasca artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Nasca — Spout-and-bridge bottles with stepped design
Nasca artist(s)
1–400 CE

Head jar, Nasca artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Nasca — Head jar
Nasca artist(s)
100–500 CE

Textile ornament, Nasca artist(s), Gold, Nasca — Textile ornament
Nasca artist(s)
1–700 CE

Headdress ornament, Nasca artist(s), Gold, Nasca — Headdress ornament
Nasca artist(s)
1–700 CE

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.