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Vulture Head Pendant
(Ancient Americas )
The inhabitants of the New World considered green stone varieties (eg. jadeite) to be an extremely valuable material. The bright green color was associated with life, which covers the earth in the form of green vegetation. An amulet such as this one would probably have been worn by a member of the royal family or by someone of the upper class. Birds such as eagles, hawks, and vultures--admired for their strength and speed--are common motifs in the art of the Americas.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1910 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Guatemala (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 1 1/4 × D: 9/16 × L: 2 1/4 in. (3.2 × 1.5 × 5.7 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1910
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
42.549