ticketsMember | Make a donation

Pendant

4th–10th century
Not on view
The most abstract Precolumbian works in gold come from the deep shaft tombs of the Capulí era in the Colombian/Ecuadorian highlands. The richest Capulí tombs, some as deep as 130 feet, contained many offerings of ceramics and precious metals. The gold objects display simple elegance and abstract natural forms. On this pendant, the suspension loop, located on most Precolumbian pendants where it cannot be seen, has been integrated into the overall composition and is visible at the top. Some scholars read the pendant as a bird with spread wings and tail, the suspension loop representing its head. The pendant was cut from hammered sheet; it has a well-polished surface. An ancient repair is present on the lower right projection of the ornament.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pendant
  • Date: 4th–10th century
  • Geography: Colombia
  • Culture: Capulí
  • Medium: Gold
  • Dimensions: H. 5 5/8 × W. 5 1/8 × D. 1/8 in. (14.3 × 13 × 0.3 cm)
  • Classification: Metal-Ornaments
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Alice K. Bache, 1977
  • Object Number: 1977.187.21
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Monkey Pendant, Gold, Carchi-Nariño, Capulí
Monkey Pendant
Carchi-Nariño, Capulí
800–1500 CE
Mammalian disk, Gold, Carchi-Nariño, Capulí
Mammalian disk
Carchi-Nariño, Capulí
800–1500 CE
Poporo (lime container) with female figures, Quimbaya artist(s), Gold, Quimbaya
Poporo (lime container) with female figures
Quimbaya artist(s)
1–600 CE
Standing figure, Tolita-Tumaco artist(s), Gold, Tolita-Tumaco
Standing figure
Tolita-Tumaco artist(s)
500 BCE–300 CE
Figure pendant, Tairona artist(s), Gold, Tairona
Figure pendant
Tairona artist(s)
900–1600 CE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 5

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.