Apr 28, 2015
Apr 28, 2015
Apr 28, 2015
Apr 29, 2015
Apr 29, 2015

Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

400–1000

Gold, cast

Overall: 11.4 x 7.2 x 6 cm (4 1/2 x 2 13/16 x 2 3/8 in.)

Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2015.3

Did you know?

A museum visitor corrected our identification of this bird!

Description

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.

Video

The Lost-Wax Casting Process
See also

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