Isthmian Region (Colombia), Sinú (Zenú), 5th century-11th century / 400–1000
Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?) as metalwork (Isthmian Region (Colombia), Sinú (Zenú), 5th century-11th century · 400–1000).
A museum visitor corrected our identification of this bird!
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this metalwork as gold, cast.
The museum's collection notes: This gold finial fit over the end of a staff, an emblem of rank. The bird has the hooked beak of a raptor—perhaps the harpy eagle, the “king” of tropical forests. The enormous crest, however, may be inspired by the Royal Flycatcher, a smaller bird that fans its unique, brilliantly colored crest during mating.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtFinial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)Original explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.