Bell in the Form of an Eagle Warrior

Aztecs. Unknown origin

Gold

State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

The bell pendant is made in the form of a halfman-halfeagle. The hollow body of the pendant has the form of a pear with a copper bead within. At even a slight movement, the bead strikes against the walls and rings. That is why such pendants are called bells. The two halves of the eagle beak make sort of a helmet in which one can see a stern-looking face with well-shaped, though tiny, features. The ears have big round inserts; the helmet is surmounted by a feather decoration. Master put an oval pectoral on the warrior's breast. In real life such decorations were worn on a rope whose knotted ends are depicted on the figure's back. One of the warrior's feather-covered hands holds a scepter, the other, three javelins and a small round shield. The scepter and shield are also decorated with feathers. Eagle talons can be seen in the figure bottom. The composition is enclosed within a rectangular frame made of wave-like lines. Two big loops at the head back show that the bell was worn on a chain or rope. Many details of this pendant give the impression of golden wires soldered to the surface, however, the whole bell is made in the lost wax technique, common for Mexico. Sometimes because of the deceptive resemblance of such details to separate wires they are called false filigree. The idea of such decorations most probably came to Aztecs from Mixtecs who had renowned goldsmiths. Mixtec pendants resembling the Hermitage bell are known. After the Aztec takeover, Mixtec craftsmen went on working, creating masterpieces for their new overlords.
Images of warriors in the attire of an eagle or jaguar, sometimes of a snake, frequently occur in Aztec art. Full-size terracotta figures of eagle warriors from the Central Temple of Mexico City are among the most outstanding monuments. Chroniclers mention unions of eagle warriors whose members were representatives of Aztec aristocratic families. They may have worn such golden bells on their breast. Only one such pendant is known now. The Hermitage artifact is unique also because very few Mexican golden products have survived. People in this area learnt to work with metals not long before the conquistadors' advent and after they arrived they melted hosts of golden artifacts.