Eagle Pendant
Unknown Artist
11th–16th century
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Veraguas (?)
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mica Ertegün, 2008
Accession Number
2008.569.17
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, this exquisite *Eagle Pendant* is a delicate masterpiece of pre-Columbian goldsmithing. Crafted from gleaming gold by an unknown artist from the Veraguas culture (or nearby region) of Panama between the 11th and 16th centuries, it just 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) in height—perfectly sized for personal adornment as a necklace or earrings. Donated in 2008 by Mica Ertegün, this ornament captures the sophistication of indigenous metalworking in Central America. Gold held profound cultural value for Veraguas people...