Frog Pendant
Unknown Artist
12th–14th century
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H. 1 1/4 × W. 15/16 × D. 1/2 in. (3.2 × 2.4 × 1.3 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Coclé (Parita)
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift and Bequest of Alice K. Bache, 1974, 1977
Accession Number
1974.271.40
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Frog Pendant, crafted from gold by an unknown artist of the Coclé (Parita) culture in Panama between the 12th and 14th centuries, exemplifies the masterful metalworking of pre-Columbian Americas. Measuring just 1 1/4 inches high, this delicate ornament likely served as personal jewelry, suspended from a cord or chain for elite wearers. Its diminutive scale highlights the precision of ancient goldsmiths, who transformed precious metal into lifelike forms using techniques like hammering, soldering, and possibly lost-wax casting—common in the region's vibrant goldworking tradition....