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Beetle (?)

The creature combines the attributes of different species (lizard, bird, fish) and perspectives. Its head clearly indicates a lizard-like shape. The dorsal fins cite fish-like characteristics. The wings and tail feathers, on the other hand, suggest avimorph characteristics. The head and torso of the flying figure were sculpted and depicted from above. The flat wings and tail feathers, on the other hand, appear in frontal perspective. Despite their size, they have no applied decorations. The broad mouth section of the object corresponds to the zoomorphic stone sculptures of the Palmar group (1550-1000d.C.). Although the metalwork belongs to the Veraguas-Chiriquí group, it has special design features. These include the chosen perspective (top view), the shape of the eyes and feet and the lack of separation between head and torso. (Künne 2005)

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Gold pendant
Dimensions
Objektmaß: 12,3 x 13,7 x 4,5 cm
Gewicht: 179,8 g
Material/Technique
Alloy (copper), Alloy (gold)
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
IV Ca 32009

Provenance and sources

when
700 - 1550
where
Costa Rica
San José [Provinz]
Pérez Zeledón [Kanton]
El General [Ort]
who
Alice Mertens

who
Felix Wiß - Former Possessors

Description
Donation from Felix Wiß 1909

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
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