Shell with Seated Noble

Description

This plaque, perhaps meant to be held in the hand for close viewing, is delicately incised with a ruler who leans toward a serpent-headed conch shell at the lower left. The lord, who smokes a cigar, is simply dressed in a loincloth; a band of body paint or tattoos appears on his chest.

Provenance

Emery May Holden Norweb [1895-1984] and Raymond Henry Norweb [1894-1983], Cleveland OH, 1965, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?-1965); The Cleveland Museum of Art (1965)

Shell with Seated Noble

[]

600–900

Accession Number

1965.550

Medium

conch shell

Dimensions

Overall: 16.6 x 7.9 x 3.5 cm (6 9/16 x 3 1/8 x 1 3/8 in.)

Classification

Sculpture

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

The Norweb Collection