Cleveland Museum of Art

Bird Beads

Date

c. 900–1550

Medium

cast gold

Culture

Colombia, Muisca style

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Muisca metalwork divides into two categories: ornaments to be worn, such as these, and offering figurines, in the case to the right. The elaborate bird pendant features delicate herringbone moldings, openwork patterns, and wing details-all part of the wax model from which the pendant was cast (see nearby computer animation). The dangles were attached after casting.

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