Nose Ornament 18th-20th century

Editor: Here we have a Nose Ornament, dated from the 18th to 20th century. It's currently located here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Looking at the materials and form, it’s hard not to see a kind of stylized human figure in it. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, seeing an anthropomorphic figure in this object is perceptive. Ornamentation often embodies codified symbols linked to power and social identity, whether communicating lineage, clan affiliation, or ritual status. Have you noticed how the ornament incorporates circular and angular shapes? Editor: Yes, the circle on top and the angles forming a sort of torso shape. The repetition, or mirroring, of those shapes in the overall composition? Curator: Precisely. These geometric forms can be seen as deliberate choices to embed layers of meaning, don't you think? It invites speculation about the worldview it represented to its original owner or viewer. The shapes feel less about decoration and more about cultural memory. Perhaps the circle suggests an endless cycle. How might this object serve as a physical manifestation of invisible cultural beliefs? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. Thinking of it in this way changes the object and my appreciation, so I understand why this is here on display for all of us to see and engage with! Thanks for broadening my thinking! Curator: It's been my pleasure to share a perspective, it's so intriguing to ponder what its maker would have intended. The best art invites further questioning, don't you think?