The cultures of ancient America blurred the lines between the physical world and that of the spirits, between the human realm and that of the animals, between the real and the fantastic. The artists excelled at creating images full of mysterious power and haunting ambiguity. This remarkable pendant, perhaps originally strung in a necklace as a bell or rattle, depicts a bird-like creature with human arms. Is this an avian deity, or mearly someone wearing a festival mask? The answer remains elusive, giving this little sculpture an enduring fascination.