Americas, Africa, Oceania

Screen with the Siege of Belgrade and Hunting Scene

A folding screen created by the Circle of the González Family in c. 1697-1701 C.E., made from tempera and resin on wood, featuring the historical Siege of Belgrade and hunting scenes, reflective of Spanish Baroque themes.

The Virgin of Guadalupe (Virgen de Guadalupe)

An oil painting by Miguel González from c. 1698 C.E., inlaid with mother-of-pearl, symbolizing Mexican identity and spirituality associated with the revered religious icon.

Spaniard and Indian Produce a Mestizo

A painting attributed to Juan Rodríguez Juárez from c. 1715 C.E., depicting a Spaniard, Indigenous woman, and their mestizo child, addressing themes of racial mixing and social hierarchy in colonial Mexico.

Portrait of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

An oil painting by Miguel Cabrera from c. 1750 C.E. that reflects the intellectual independence of the prominent Mexican writer and philosopher in a male-dominated colonial society.

The Oxbow (View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm)

An iconic 1836 oil painting by Thomas Cole representing the contrast between cultivated land and nature, evoking American identity and the Romantic movement.

Spiral Jetty

A large-scale earthwork created by Robert Smithson in 1970 C.E. at the Great Salt Lake, exploring themes of entropy and humanity's relationship with nature.

Great Serpent Mound

An effigy mound located in Southern Ohio, created by the Mississippian culture around c. 1070 C.E., symbolizing Native American cosmology and ritual practices.

Coyolxauhqui Stone and Calendar/Sun Stone

Monumental stones from the Templo Mayor, c. 1375-1520 C.E., serving as important religious symbols for the Mexica (Aztec) culture.

Ruler’s Feather Headdress (probably of Motecuhzoma II)

An Aztec headdress made of feathers and gold, created c. 1428-1520 C.E., symbolizing the high value placed on feathers in Mexica society.

All-T’oqapu Tunic

An intricately woven tunic from the Inka culture, created between 1450-1540 C.E., reflecting social hierarchy through its designs.

Bandolier Bag

A decorative bag from the Lenape culture, created c. 1850 C.E., showcasing intricate beadwork used by men for personal items.

Transformation Mask

A ceremonial mask from the Kwakwaka’wakw culture, used in dances, symbolizing transformation and the connection to spiritual narratives.

Painted Elk Hide

Artwork attributed to Cotsiogo (Cadzi Cody), created c. 1890-1900 C.E., reflecting narrative storytelling in the Shoshone culture.

Black-on-Black Ceramic Vessel

A blackware ceramic piece from San Ildefonso Pueblo, made by Maria Martínez and Julian Martínez, known for its cultural significance and craftsmanship.

Wall Plaque from Oba’s palace

A 16th-century cast brass plaque created by the Edo peoples, illustrating royal power and ceremonies in the Benin Kingdom.

Sika dwa ko (Golden Stool)

A symbol of unity and authority among the Ashanti peoples, created around 1700 C.E., representing the soul of the nation.

Ndop (portrait figure)

A wooden figure from the Kuba culture, created c. 1760-1780 C.E., representing king Mishe miShyaang maMbul and reflecting cultural values.

Power Figure (Nkisi n’kondi)

A spiritual figure from the Kongo culture, c. late 19th century C.E., believed to hold powers used in healing and protection rituals and record contracts. The knots represent a contract.

Female (Pwo) Mask

A wood and pigment mask representing femininity in Chokwe culture, used in initiation ceremonies to uphold community values.

Portrait Mask (Mblo)

A ceremonial mask from the Baule peoples, early 20th century, linked to cultural identity and social commentary.

Bundu Mask

A ritual mask of the Sande Society, created in the 19th to 20th century, symbolizing societal ideals of beauty and womanhood.

Ikenga (shrine figure)

A wooden figure from the Igbo culture, representing personal achievement and masculinity, often honored in rituals.

Lukasa

A memory board from the Luba culture, c. 19th to 20th century, important for storytelling and preserving history.

Aka Elephant Mask

A ceremonial wood and fiber mask from the Bamileke culture, reflecting power and prestige during royal ceremonies.

Reliquary Figure (byeri)

Wooden figures from the Fang peoples, believed to guard ancestral relics and embody cultural beliefs.

Veranda Post of Enthroned King and Senior Wife (Opo Ogoga)

A wooden post by Olowe of Ise, c. 1910-1914, depicting the social hierarchy within the Yoruba culture.

Moai on Platform (ahu)

Volcanic tuff statues from Rapa Nui, c. 1100-1600 C.E., representing ancestral figures and spiritual beliefs.

‘Ahu ‘ula (feather cape)

A ceremonial feather cape from Hawaiian culture, symbolizing nobility and status, made in the late 18th century.

Staff God

A carved figure from Rarotonga, illustrating the connection between deities and cultural practices from late 18th to early 19th century.

Female Deity

Wooden figure from Micronesia, representing feminine divinity and utilized in rituals, reflecting gender and spirituality.

Buk (mask)

A multi-material mask from the Torres Strait, used in rituals, embodying cultural identity and artistic traditions in the region.

Hiapo (tapa)

A decorative tapa cloth from Niue, c. 1850-1900, illustrating cultural significance and artistic expression in ceremonies.

Tamati Waka Nene

An oil portrait by Gottfried Lindauer from 1890, depicting a prominent Maori chief and reflecting themes of leadership.

Navigation Chart

Sophisticated ocean navigation charts from the Marshall Islands, showcasing cultural significance and practical knowledge.

Malagan Display and Mask

Art from New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, c. 20th century, used in funerary rites and reflecting spiritual beliefs.