On view
Art of the Ancient Americas
Shell disk (ear ornament frontal),
900–1500
Huastec
Postclassic Period
2016-1223
A human stands atop the open mouth of a large serpent, as if emerging from its body. Details of his costume suggest that he is either a warrior or Cloud Serpent, the Huastec deity of hunting and war. The design of this large piece of seashell—once part of an ear ornament—was produced through expert use of several carving techniques, including drilled cut-out sections, incised lines, and circular depressions that likely held inlays of orange shell, green jade, or blue turquoise.
Information
Title
Shell disk (ear ornament frontal)
Dates
900–1500
Medium
Shell and black pigment
Dimensions
h. 2.0 cm., diam. 7.0 cm. (13/16 x 2 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Gillett G. Griffin
Object Number
2016-1223
Place Made
North America, Mexico, Veracruz, North Veracruz
Culture
Period
Subject
November 23, 1998, Sotheby's, “Pre-Columbian Art,” New York, lot 342. By 1999, Gillett G. Griffin (1928-2016), Princeton, NJ [2]; 2016, bequeathed to the Princeton University Art Museum.
Notes:
[1] According to Sotheby’s, Pre-Columbian Art (New York: Sotheby’s, 1998), lot 342.
[2] Griffin lent the work to the Museum in 1999 (L.1999.3).
