COCLE GOLD ANTHROPOMORPHIC PENDANT, PARITA

CA. A. D. 800-1500

Details

COCLE GOLD ANTHROPOMORPHIC PENDANT, PARITA
Ca. A. D. 800-1500
The large hollow cast pendant composed of a pair of identical, anthropomorphic figures with tusk-shaped bodies, their outer hands grasping snakes, each with braid work body and ornamented with spiral sprays, a miniature saurian within their conjoined inner hands, a broad, flattened headdress emanating from their heads, adorned with caps and striated necklace, with three projecting rods holding three square dangles; a suspension loop on the reverse.
Height: 3 5/8 in. (9.3 cm.); width: 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.)

Provenance

Byron Gallery, New York
Collection of Monique Uzielli, New York, acquired from the above in 1965

Lot Essay

According to a Spanish account in Panama, a chief wondered at the Spanish attitude of melting, since gold was worth not more than a lump of clay if it was not crafted into something (see discussion, Art of Pre-Columbian Gold, pg. 26) For the ancient indigenous Isthmian populations it was the power of the imagery, the esoteric knowledge needed to create an image and the life inherent in all these works that was of paramount importance.

Cf. Between Continents/Between Seas, pl.95

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