Pendant of Bird Head

Greater Nicoya, Pre-Columbian

Period IV (1000 BC-AD 500), Period V (500-1000), 300 - 800

  • Titles Pendant of Bird Head (Descriptive)
  • Artist Greater Nicoya, Costa Rica
  • Medium jade
  • Dimensions 1 1/2 x 1 3/8 x 3/8 in. (3.8 x 3.5 x 1 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Bequest of William M. Spencer III, AFI.252.2010
  • Work Type pendant
  • Classification Jewelry

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A wide plate with flared sides. The interior with painted Moan bird motif surrounded by a wall band of elongated glyphs. In red, black, and orange pigments. Shard reglued into rim.
Earthenware bowl with light brown clay body under red slip, burnished, and incised through the slip. Bowl forms body of standing animal figure, probably a jaguar, and four curved legs and feet support the bowl. Jaguar head has open grimacing mouth with peg-like teeth, bulbous nose, round ears. A pointed, hollow, stumpy tail emerges from rear of bowl. Surface of vessel adorned with incised patterns.
Torso, Mexico, Pre-Columbian, earthenware
Vessel, Mexico, Pre-Columbian, earthenware