Cleveland Museum of Art

Animal-Headed Figure Pendant

Date

1–800 CE

Medium

cast gold

Culture

Colombia, Quimbaya or Yotoco style

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The same creature, nasty but precious, appears in both pendants (1939.515). Human in its posture and arms, its head is that of an animal with a long, toothy snout. It holds batons to its mouth, and whiskers or ears flare from the sides of the head. The little headdress domes are mystifying; they have been described as mushrooms, gourds, and ceramic vessels, among other things.

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