Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Figure Seated on a Bench with Hands Held to Mouth
(Ancient Americas )
To connect with spiritual forces during a ritual, shamans wear masks and headdresses. Originally brightly painted, the headdress of this man is in the form of a composite beast, with a bat’s face and a jaguar’s fangs, referencing some of South America’s most awe-inspiring animals.
This shaman is about to inhale hallucinogens, initiating a ritual during which he aimed to communicate with animal spirits and mediate his community’s needs. The crocodile-like tail affixed to his belt may reflect the belief that spiritually powerful people can transform into animals.
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.
Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, New York; Herbert L. Lucas, Los Angeles; Ancient Art of the New World, New York; purchased by a private collection, 1992; given to Walters Art Museum, 2009.
Exhibitions
| 2018 | Crowning Glory: Art of the Americas. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Ecuador (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 17 1/2 x W: 8 1/4 x D: 9 3/4 in. (44.5 x 20.9 x 24.8 cm)
Credit Line
Anonymous gift, 2009
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.
48.2862