Ear Ornament Artist: Unknown

A.D. 50–600

Art of the Ancient Americas

On view, 1st floor, Art of the Ancient Americas

A bearded skeletal monster encases a human face shown in profile. Little more than the eyes, mouth, and a filed tooth of this man can be seen, although his breath escapes in a long scroll, as if to reassure us that he is indeed alive. Sutures mark the bones of the monster's skull. This object and 1991.45.1 form a pair, to be used as earflares or perhaps ornamentation for a headdress.

Medium

Carved and incised conch shell with cinnabar

Dimensions

4.8 cm (1 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wardwell, B.A. 1957

Accession Number

1988.91.1

Geography

Guatemala

Culture

Guatemala, El Petén, Maya

Period

Early Classic Period

Classification

Jewelry

Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Bibliography

  • Susan B. Matheson, Art for Yale: A History of the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2001), 168–69, fig. 169.
  • Handbook of the Collections, exh. cat. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 1992), 317, ill.
  • Mimi Gardner Gates, "Director's Report 1988," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (Spring 1989): 121.

Object copyright
No Copyright - United States
Additional information

Object/Work type

ear ornaments

Technical metadata and APIs

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