Bird Staff Head
Unknown Artist
1–1000 CE
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H. 4 7/8 × W. 1 5/8 × D. 3 3/8 in. (12.4 × 4.1 × 8.6 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Zenú
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Accession Number
1979.206.775
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Bird Staff Head*, a gold ornament crafted by an unknown Zenú artist between 1 and 1000 CE. Hailing from the Zenú culture of Colombia's Caribbean lowlands, this small yet striking piece—measuring just 4 7/8 inches high—depicts a stylized bird with intricate detailing, likely serving as the finial for ceremonial staff. Its lustrous gold medium, weighing lightly in the hand, exemplifies the pre-Columbian mastery of metalworking in the Americas. The Zenú people were renowned for their sophisticated goldsmithing, producing ornaments that blended artistry with spiritual symbol...