Jade and 18kt gold
Panama
1100 - 1500 AD
Necklace Length 20"
Pendant 1 1/8"
Weight 52.22 grams
Avian pendants cast in gold, called águilas (eagles) by the invading Spanish, were symbols of mythological power in the region now known as Veraguas, Panama. Leaders in the Caribbean region widely exchanged such pendants and wore them as power amulets. The supernatural birds have fanciful, hybrid features— such as neck ornaments, elaborate crests, and other protuberances—that sometimes complicate the identification of a recognizable species.
Jade and 18kt gold
Panama
1100 - 1500 AD
Necklace Length 20"
Pendant 1 1/8"
Weight 52.22 grams
Avian pendants cast in gold, called águilas (eagles) by the invading Spanish, were symbols of mythological power in the region now known as Veraguas, Panama. Leaders in the Caribbean region widely exchanged such pendants and wore them as power amulets. The supernatural birds have fanciful, hybrid features— such as neck ornaments, elaborate crests, and other protuberances—that sometimes complicate the identification of a recognizable species.
