Artwork
Necklace with Human Faces
Artist
Unknown
DepartmentLatin American Art
CultureTiwanaku-Wari
Dateca. A.D. 1000
Dimensionsh. 9 in. (22.9 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay A. Duff
Object number2004.25.2
GeographyGeneral regionSouth America
DescriptionNecklace composed of seven square, wood beads/pendants. On each is a face, perhaps of a noble person, created from a mosaic of spondylus shell (face), an opalescent unidentified shell (ears and nose), and stone, possibly turquoise (eyes).Label TextIn the central Andes, finely worked jewelry was crafted of precious shells such as orange spondylus, purple mussel, and iridescent mother of pearl. The small mosaic inlays were affixed to shell, bone, or wood backings with an organic adhesive made from the resin of trees or plants. Mimicking motifs on textiles and ceramics, jewelry depicted humans, abstract designs, or sacred felines and other animals. Adornments of this quality would likely have belonged to high-status individuals. (Michelle Rich 2018)Provenancewith Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay A. Duff, Kerville, TX by 2004; by gift to the San Antonio Museum of Art, 2004On view
Collections
Culture: Japanese
18th-19th century
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
