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Source Description
These finials probably fit over the ends of wooden staffs, emblems of rank. Unique to the Sinú area are finials with an image, often a bird, at a right angle to the base. This orientation suggests that the finials served as the finger grips of ceremonial spear throwers.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
132031
label
Staff Head
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
132031
contentType
object
title
Staff Head
description
These finials probably fit over the ends of wooden staffs, emblems of rank. Unique to the Sinú area are finials with an image, often a bird, at a right angle to the base. This orientation suggests that the finials served as the finger grips of ceremonial spear throwers.
date
400–1000 CE
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80023694
genreSpecific
Metalwork
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 6.7 x 3 x 8.2 cm (2 5/8 x 1 3/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
cul
Colombia, Sinú style
accession
1954.594
Source extras
tec
cast gold
tombstone
Staff Head, 400–1000 CE. Colombia, Sinú style. Cast gold; overall: 6.7 x 3 x 8.2 cm (2 5/8 x 1 3/16 x 3 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1954.594
collection
AA - Intermediate Region
citations
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 295
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 295
citation
The Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978</em>. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 398
creditline
John L. Severance Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:48:17.038000
sourceId
132031
dept
Art of the Americas
coll
AA - Intermediate Region
med
cast gold
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
d6635fcfcc85a9ff