id: 125947 accession number: 1948.18 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1948.18 updated: 2023-01-10 22:54:54.962000 Animal-Headed Figure Pendant, c. 1000–1550. Costa Rica, Diquís region, 11th-16th century. Cast gold; overall: 8.7 x 9 x 3.1 cm (3 7/16 x 3 9/16 x 1 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, James Albert Ford Memorial Fund 1948.18 title: Animal-Headed Figure Pendant title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1000–1550 creation date earliest: 1000 creation date latest: 1550 current location: 233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region creditline: James Albert Ford Memorial Fund copyright: --- culture: Costa Rica, Diquís region, 11th-16th century technique: cast gold department: Art of the Americas collection: AA - Intermediate Region type: Metalwork find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 8.7 x 9 x 3.1 cm (3 7/16 x 3 9/16 x 1 1/4 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS * Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art; February 23-April 3, 1966. "Treasures of Peruvian Gold." --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: Among the pendants shown here are a crustacean (1943.290), an animal-headed figure (1948.18), and two pendants featuring birds (1951.442 and 1946.223). The latter were dubbed aguilas (eagles) by Christopher Columbus, who saw natives wearing them as necklace ornaments. Modern researchers are not as sure of the species shown, but some believe that they are birds of prey because talons and beaks are prominent and often clutch something, in one example here a small, disembodied head that holds a clapper. In both examples, two tufts in the form of crocodiles in profile flank the birds’ heads. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1948.18/1948.18_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1948.18/1948.18_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1948.18/1948.18_full.tif