Pre-Columbian, Central America, Panama or possibly Costa Rica, Veraguas culture, ca. 800 to 1500 CE. A lovely pair of 80% gold (equivalent to 18K+) zoomorphic ornaments - a shark-like fish and a pair of birds with two outstretched wings and two heads with bulbous eyes. The majority of gold items from ancient Central America were made to be worn, and these pieces were likely sewn onto an item of clothing, made to be worn by the living and ultimately buried with the dead. Columbus's expedition to the area - his last to the New World - included contact with the Veraguas, who, according to his records, embalmed their dead and bedecked them in gold finery. Size of fish: 2.1" W (5.3 cm); gold is 80% pure (equivalent to 18K+); total weight of both: 19.1 grams
Columbus traveled with a local guide to the furthest west port of their territory, where he encountered twenty canoes manned by people wearing nothing but gold plates and a gold eagle. Fascinatingly, what most struck Columbus and his men was that these gold ornaments were worn by nearly everyone amongst the Veraguas - the leader was dressed like everyone else! Indeed, what most impressed Ferdinand Columbus, the explorer's son who had accompanied him on the mission, was the number of wives that the leader had, apparently the true indication of wealth in that society.
Provenance: ex-Craig Hendrix collection, South Carolina, USA; ex-Charles Craig Jr. collection, Costa Rica, acquired in the 1960s and 1970s
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#154094
Condition
The two headed piece shows losses to its lower end. The other is intact. Both have small areas of bending and rich deposits and patina on their surfaces.