Nose Ornament

Unknown

13th–16th century · Gold · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

In Precolumbian times this nose ornament was probably viewed as an abbreviated version of an animal mask, most likely feline. The graceful outward projections bring to mind feline whiskers. The long central section would have obscured the mouth of the wearer, hiding this "human" feature. An indigenous repair--a staplelike strap--occurs on one of the lower projections.

Artist

Unknown

Date

13th–16th century

Medium

Gold

Culture

Sonso

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Jan Mitchell and Sons Collection, Gift of Jan Mitchell, 1991