Figure Pendant
Unknown Artist
8th–16th century
Medium
Gold (cast)
Dimensions
Height 1-3/16 in. (3 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Costa Rica (?)
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alice K. Bache, 1977
Accession Number
1977.187.24
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite **Figure Pendant**, crafted from cast gold, hails from ancient Costa Rica (or nearby regions) between the 8th and 16th centuries—a span encompassing vibrant pre-Columbian cultures renowned for their mastery of metallurgy. Measuring just 1-3/16 inches (3 cm) tall, this diminutive human figure was likely worn as personal adornment, perhaps suspended from a necklace, symbolizing status, spirituality, or ancestral connections in daily or ritual life. The use of gold, a precious metal symbolizing the sun and divine power in many Mesoamerican and Central American societies, underscor...