Detail View: The AMICA Library: Pin Ornament

AMICA ID: 
CMA_.1958.179
AMICA Library Year: 
2002
Object Type: 
Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
Creator Nationality: 
North American; Central American; Mesoamerican
Creator Name-CRT: 
Peru, North Highlands, Chavín de Huantar(?), Chavín style (1000-200 BC)
Title: 
Pin Ornament
Title Type: 
Primary
View: 
Full View
Creation Date: 
c. 500-200 BC
Creation Start Date: 
-500
Creation End Date: 
-200
Materials and Techniques: 
hammered and cut gold
Classification Term: 
Metalwork
Dimensions: 
Overall:
AMICA Contributor: 
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Owner Location: 
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
ID Number: 
1958.179
Credit Line: 
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tishman
Rights: 
Provenance: 
Juan Dalmau, Peru; Joseph Brummer; Dr. Vladimir G. Simkhovitch
Context: 

There seems a link between Chavín religion and appearance of the Andes' first large, precious metal objects. Chavín perhaps introduced revolutionary innovations in metalworking to express the "wholly other" nature of its religion. Elites wore the ornaments as emblems of their ties to this religion and were eventually buried with them. These objects may come from the same group as two now in Washington, D.C.

The human heads on these pins have slightly different hairstyles and one has facial decoration. Ornaments may have once dangled from their pierced noses.

Related Image Identifier Link: 
CMA_.AM20020543.tif