Feathered Serpent Ornament
Unknown Artist
15th–16th century
Medium
Gold (hammered)
Dimensions
H. 2 7/8 x W. 1 7/8 in. (7.3 x 4.7 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Aztec
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
1979.206.1153
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Feathered Serpent Ornament crafted by an unknown Aztec artist in the 15th–16th century, captures the divine essence of one of Mesoamerica's most revered deities, Quetzalcoatl Feathered Serpent god of creation, wisdom, and wind. Measuring just 2 7/8 x 1 7/8 inches (7.3 x 4.7 cm), this delicate gold piece likely served as a personal adornment, such as an earspool or pectoral, worn by elites during rituals or ceremonies. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas department, from The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, highl...