South America

Detail image of a beaded object with red, yellow, and gold beads.

Decorative body art from the Amazon features exotic bird feathers–toucan, parrot and macaw–insects, such as jewel and rhinoceros beetles, seeds, and bones from fish, such as piranhas. Traders introduced glass beads which were used to create elaborate geometric designs for necklaces and bracelets, based on graphic traditions that date prior to contact. 

Pre-Columbian cultures that developed in South America, especially in Peru, Columbia , Ecuador, learned to work gold, copper, and silver and made pendants and beads from Spondylus princeps or thorny oyster, which is found in the warm coastal waters off Ecuador. 

Image of seated ceramic figure with headdress, ear spools, septum ring, and necklace.

Bahia Seated Figure

500 BC–AD 500

This seated figure from Bahia de Manta, Province of Manabi, Ecuador is wearing a headdress, necklace, earspools, and nose ring. The cultures of
this region specialized in diving for spondylus shells, which were traded throughout the region and as far north as Mexico.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

HM4660

Image of necklace made from emerald green insect wing casings.

Kofan Carabid Beetle Necklace

c. 1960

This necklace is made from the elytra or forewings of carabid beetles, a colorful ground beetle.

Donated by Fred Knight

HM3270

Image of wide beaded bracelet with white, black, teal, red, and gold beads.

Shipibo Beaded Arm Band

c. 1950

From Tingo Maria, Peru.

Given by the family of Howard F. Allard

HM4409

Image of ornament with two rings at top and various metal elements hanging inside a rectangular frame.

Chimu Copper Pectoral

AD 900-1470

The Chimu empire flourished on the North Coast of Peru, prior to the rise of the Inca.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Rothschild Collection

HM4658

Image of necklace made with the head portion of large beetles.

Kofan Rhinoceros Beetle Mandible Necklace

AD 1960 – 1969

Paul E. Taylor Collection

HM4756

Image of necklace with dangling hoof sheaths.

Kofan Tapir Hoof Necklace

c. 1960

Paul E. Taylor Collection

HM4758

Kofan Tropical Bird, Seed, and Bead Hair Ornaments

c. 1960

Paul E. Taylor Collection

HM4760, HM4761, HM4762

Tairona Tumbaga

10th – 16th Century

Some of the most elaborate pre-contact goldwork in the Americas was done by the Tairona people of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern
Colombia. These works were made using a lost-wax casting process and are referred to as tumbaga – an alloy of gold and copper.

From the Collection of Donald C. Corse

HM6290, HM6291, HM6295, HM6296, HM6297, HM6298

Image of a wide beaded bracelet with black, white, red, yellow, and gold beads.

Shipibo Bracelet

c. 1980

The Shipibo live along the Ucayalli River in the Peruvian rain forest.

Brian S. Robinson Collection

HM9122

Image of necklace made with seeds, claws, and a small monkey skull.

Shipibo Necklace with Monkey Skull Pendant

c. 1980

Brian S. Robinson Collection

HM9118