Nose Ornament

Unknown

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

Although some are of artful or inorganic design, ancient American nose ornaments often bear a strong resemblance to natural forms. Here, the long projections bristle and balance sedately outward, bringing to mind an exaggerated mustache or whiskers. Indigenous American men have relatively little facial hair, so it is unlikely that the ornament was thought of as mustache-like by its maker. It is more probable that the whiskers of a large cat are represented.

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