Bird Bead (c. 900–1550): Art, History and Details

Bird Bead (c. 900–1550) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

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.

Object facts

• Title: Bird Bead
• Date: c. 900–1550
• Culture: Colombia, Muisca style
• Type: Jewelry
• Technique: cast gold
• Collection: AA - Intermediate Region
• Department: Art of the Americas
• Accession number: 1949.190.k

Collection credit

Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of Mrs. Stephen V. Harkness

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.