Shell

CultureCalima
Titles
  • Shell
Date200 BC–1300 AD
PlaceColombia
MediumGold and shell
Dimensions1 7/8 × 4 7/16 in. (4.7 × 11.2 cm)
Credit LineGift of Alfred C. Glassell, Jr.
Object number2010.1053
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
211M Jones Galleries
On view

Explore Further

Object Type
ProvenancePossibly David Bernstein; purchased by Alfred C. Glassell, Jr. (1913–2008), Houston, by at least March 11, 1998 [1]; Estate of Alfred C. Glassell, Jr., 2008–2010; given to MFAH, 2010.

[1] Glassell Inventory, inventory number precedes object described on 3/11/98.
Exhibition History"Golden Worlds: The Portable Universe of Indigenous Colombia," Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California, May 29—October 2, 2022; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, November 6, 2022—April 16, 2023; Montreál Museum of Fine Arts, Quebec, Canada, May 29—October 8, 2023. (OL.1515)

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

front of object
200 BC–200 AD
Gold and shell
2010.1050
front of object
200 BC–200 AD
Gold and shell
2010.1051
front of object
200 BC–200 AD
Gold and shell
2010.1052
Amulet in the form of a Turtle
12th–14th century
Gold
2004.2313
Figural Ornament
600–1000 AD
Gold, shell, and turquoise
2010.1030
Seated Warrior with Gold Poncho and a Silver "Fez" with a Crest.
100 BC–700 AD
Gold, silver, spondylus, purple mussel shell, turquoise, wood, resin, cotton cord
2010.978
Wutala, Ancestral Crown
15th–17th century
Gold
2004.2311
Pair of Trophy Head Pendants
100 BC–700 AD
Gold, turquoise, shell, resin, cotton cord
2010.987.1,.2
Curassow Pendant with Dangles
1–800
Cast and hammered gold
2004.2443
Necklace with Shell-shaped Pendants
9th–10th century
Gold
2004.2222
Crown
16th–17th century
Hammered and repoussé gold
2006.538
36 Immortal Poet Shells (Sanju Roku Kasengai)
17th century
Shells, gold and mineral pigments, lacquer, sumi ink, paper, and wood
2020.134.1-.36