**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, Central America, Panama or Costa Rica, Chiriqui or Veraguas culture, ca. 8th to 14th century CE. A precious gold figural pendant of a nude shaman figure, masterfully cast via the lost wax method, and displaying jewelry and a feathered headdress. Between the legs is genitalia, and one hand holds an implement. The verso has a loop for suspension and a modern jumper ring has been added for suspension and this could certainly be worn today as a pendant! Originally this piece must have been worn by an elite member of society to convey power and wealth. Size: 1.76" L x 1" W (4.5 cm x 2.5 cm); gold quality: 78.04% (equivalent to 18K+); weight: 10.5 grams

Similar examples of this type are on display in the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Precolombino) San Jose, Costa Rica museum, please see the . Please see their collection website, inventory number: BCCR-O-0369 and BCCR-O-0463

Pre-Columbian art is well-known for its impressive goldworks, especially amongst the cultures of the Isthmo-Colombian region. Gold became the preferred material for creating fashionable ornaments sometime after 500 CE replacing jadeite and other green stones from which artists had made impressive jewelry for centuries. Indeed, the ancient cultures of the New World created countless gold ornaments and ceremonial objects that were often buried with the deceased as funerary goods. Unfortunately, the Spanish conquistadors melted nearly all of these to convert them to gold bars and coins for Spain. Due to this, surviving genuine pre-Columbian gold is rare and highly coveted by collectors.

Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010

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#177438

Choice condition. Some softening and rubbing to surfaces, nicks and light pitting, otherwise intact and Modern jumper ring added to verso for suspension.