Plaque with figures
Unknown Artist
13th–15th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
H. 2 x W. 2 in. (5 x 5 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Colima (?)
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mary R. Morgan Gift, 2001
Accession Number
2001.79
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate silver plaque, measuring just 2 x 2 inches, hails from the 13th–15th century and showcases enigmatic figures, possibly including elephants, crafted by an unknown artist from the Colima culture (or a related tradition) in West Mexico. Displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas, exemplifies pre-Columbian metal ornamentssmall, portable treasures likely worn as jewelry or ritual adornments. Colima, a coastal region of Mesoamerica, was renowned for its shaft tomb burials and vibrant ceramic traditions, but this rare silver piece high...