Introduction The Cantino Planisphere is a Portuguese map of the known world produced in 1502 (Fig. 1). Created by an unidentified cartographer(s), the map’s name derives from Alberto Cantino, an Italian agent who obtained the map for the Duke of Ferrara.[1] While it is unknown whether the map was commissioned,…
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For #LoveHornbillsDay, here are examples of kenyalang figures from the Iban people of Borneo. These carved and painted wooden figures are stylized representations of the kenyalang bird, aka the Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros). It is the official state bird of Sarawak and national bird of Malaysia. GALLERY The largest sculptures…
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English sisters Mary & Elizabeth Kirby were prolific producers of books dedicated to popularizing science & nature study in the Victorian era. Their 1874 book Humming-birds included 6 color plates…
The 3rd Friday of May is Endangered Species Day. Although Vincent Van Gogh (Dutch, 1853-1890) never traveled outside of Europe, he painted at least two different animals from faraway lands…
After a long period of relatively little activity outside of posting info about events, Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art’s social media has had a busy August sharing more images from its collection, including no less than a half dozen animal art-themed works! I have been sharing these on the…
I really need to find out what manuscript this is from LOL…
The vivid feathers were expensive, with the most prized specimens imported from Cambodia and Vietnam. Artisans cut them to shape before painstakingly pasting the feathers onto gilded metal backing that formed the structure of the headdresses. Precious and semiprecious stones such as rubies, agate, and jadeite as well as other…
Finely carved ivory combs and knife handles produced toward the end of Egypt’s prehistory demonstrate the high standards Egyptian artists had achieved, even before the Old Kingdom. This comb may have been part of the funeral equipment of an elite person who lived about 5,200 years ago. Parts of the…
