Exhibiting Historical Art: Out of the Vault: Stories of People and Things

Gold Eagle Pendants





Anonymous
Western Panama and adjoining areas of Costa Rica

Gold bird-form pendants were a favored form of personal ornament in ancient Central America, and are perhaps the best known type of Pre-Columbian gold object. They were made to be worn suspended around the neck, and while the pendants differ in specific details, the basic configuration is usually the same- extended wings over open, splayed tails and heads, and beaks that project strongly forward. These personal ornaments were fabricated in many sizes; some are barely an inch high and may have been made for children, while others, such as this example, would fully adorn a large male chest. 

Sarah Robinson 
Musical Arts and Economics Major '18

Contents of this path:

  1. Bribri mythology
  2. Significance of the Bird Form
  3. Significance of Gold in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
  4. Provenance
  5. Map
  6. Further Reading

This page has tags:

  1. World Map Rebekah Smith

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