Bird Pendant

The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Bird Pendant as metalwork (Panama, Veraguas-Chiriquí style, 10th-16th century · c. 1000–1550).

WHY IT’S INTERESTING

The kinds of birds represented in pendants of the isthmus are not clear, though the emphasis on spread wings and flight suggests birds that soar, such as eagles or hawks. In addition to their aerial agility, they are powerful birds of prey and, therefore, may have symbolized a warrior's or hunter's ferocity and skill.

SERENDIPITYA little unexpected

FamiliarWeird

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this metalwork as cast gold.

The museum's collection notes: The kinds of birds represented in pendants of the isthmus are not clear, though the emphasis on spread wings and flight suggests birds that soar, such as eagles or hawks. In addition to their aerial agility, they are powerful birds of prey and, therefore, may have symbolized a warrior's or hunter's ferocity and skill. They were also often linked to the sun. Better understanding is difficult because the makers created no written records.

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The Cleveland Museum of ArtBird Pendant

Original explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.