Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · The Cleveland Museum of Art
Image: public domain (CC0) · Museum record & image source ↗
Colombia or Panama, International style, 5th-8th Century · c. 400–700
Staff Head(?)
Creator not recorded by the museum
- Date
- c. 400–700
- Medium
- cast gold
- Dimensions
- Overall: 8.3 x 7.2 x 2.4 cm (3 1/4 x 2 13/16 x 15/16 in.)
- Country / context
- Colombia or Panama, International style, 5th-8th Century
- Movement / tradition
- Central and South American arts
- Collection
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Pathway
- Central and South American arts ↗
FROM THE MUSEUM
The two-headed beast that crouches on the top of this object-perhaps a staff finial (head)-holds a human head or perhaps a mask between its paws. The silken surface and simple, elegant design identify the finial as of the International style, so-called because it crossed ancient boundaries and is found in Colombia as well as Costa Rica and Panama.
Collection text · The Cleveland Museum of Art · CC0A MOMENT TO LOOK
Start with what you can see: shapes, surface, colour and scale. How might the listed materials affect the way this object was made and experienced?
Looking prompt · an invitation to observe, not a historical interpretation.Follow a connection.
Explore the tradition ↗
↗Peru, North Coast, Chongoyape(?), Chavín style (900-200 BCE) · c. 500–200 BCE
Plaque
Creator not recorded
↗Peru, North Coast, Moche style · 200–550 CE
Portrait Head Vessel
Creator not recorded
↗Peru, North Coast, Moche style · c. 200–550 CE
Portrait Head Vessel
Creator not recorded
↗Guatemala or Mexico, Usumacinta River region, Maya style · c. 795
Panel with Royal Woman
Creator not recorded