COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
Record
AMICA ID:
MMA_.1979.206.1138
AMICA Library Year:
2002
Object Type:
Costume and Jewelry
Description:
Tropical Costa Rica is the habitat of an enormous number of bird species, many of which acquired symbolic dimensions in jade depictions. This pendant, made of a jadeite of great clarity, features a toucan. Yet its upright stance and folded arms indicate that the figure is anthropomorphic, implying perhaps that it is a masked or transformation figure. Adding to the complexity of the image is a trophy head where the figure's feet should be. Disembodied heads are frequent in Precolumbian Costa Rican art . This pendant is said to be from the Atlantic Watershed region, one of the two primary areas of jade use in ancient times. The other is the northwestern province of Guanacaste. Each area is generally associated with characteristic stylistic features in jade and other antiquities.
Creator Nationality:
North American; Native American
Creator Name-CRT:
Atlantic Watershed
Title:
Bird Pendant
View:
Principal view
Creation Date:
1st?5th century
Creation Start Date:
1
Creation End Date:
499
Materials and Techniques:
Jadeite
Creation Place:
Costa Rica
Dimensions:
H. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
AMICA Contributor:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Owner Location:
New York, New York
ID Number:
1979.206.1138
Credit Line:
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Copyright:
Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
Related Image Identifier Link:
MMA_.h1_1979.206.1138.tif
