Panama, Classic Veraguas Cast Gold Frog with Serpents from its Mouth
This beautiful lost-wax cast gold frog has oval eyes and a ribbon down its back with hammered hind legs. Two elaborate serpents extend from the frog’s mouth. Gold castings are often finished with hammered extensions like flippers, arms, or serpents. There is a similar example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the Jan Mitchell collection. This is frog was also formerly in the Jan Mitchell collection, acquired prior to 1970, by descent to his sons.Shows signs of ancient wear. The suspension loops are quite worn.
Period: Panama, Veraguas, c. AD 1000
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 2 7/8" x Width: 1 3/4" Weight: 32.4 grams.
$8,500
p1045
Panama, Classic Veraguuas Cast Gold Frog with Serpents
This beautiful cast gold frog has large spherical eyes and a ribbon down its back and bordering its flippers. There is a modern suspension loop hung from the original suspension arrangement. Jan Mitchell collection, prior to 1970, by descent to his sons.
Period: Panama, Veraguas, c. AD 1000
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 2 7/8" x Width: 1 3/4" Weight: 32.4 grams.
$6,500
p1045a
Panama, Cocle Cast Gold Anthropmorphized Twin Warriors
Each warrior has human bodies with bird-like facial features. They are wearing headdresses with undulating serpents and holding a typical paddle-like standard. There are curved bands emanating from each of the warrior's mouths. The warriors have beaked noses, representing transformation into condors. Ex. New York collector, prior to 1970. Two examples of attached figures are in the Met Museum.
Period: Panama, Cocle, c. AD 800 - 1200
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Height: 2" x Width: 4" Weight: 62.5 grams.
Price Upon Request
n7033
Panama, Cocle Cast Gold Pendant of Pair Anthropomorphized Bats
Lost Was cast depicting paired figures with bat faces, human hands, and a corcodilian body and tail. Duality was a known belief of the natural world: male and female, night and day, heaven and earth. Bats are nocturnal creatures and ruled the darkness. There are two cast suspension loops behind each outside shoulder. Ex. New York collector, prior to 1970.
Period: Panama, Disquis, c. AD 1200 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Width 2 3/4" x Length: 3 1/8" Weight 100.6 grams
XRF
Price Upon Request
n7027
Panama, Diquis Gold Figural Pendant Wearing a Raptor Bird Mask
The pendant is an excellent example of the Lost Wax casting technique. The imposing figure has typical Diquis style "C"-shaped wings with crocodile heads emanating from behind the head and feet. The figure is probably a male shaman in transition for flight to the other world. This pendant is illustrated in THE ART OF PRECOLUMBIAN GOLD- The Jan Mitchell Collection, pg. 105, and also in POWER OF GOLD, p. 72. Another similar example of a Diquis pendant with with a bat's head is illustrated in Between the Continents/Between Seas: PRECOLUMBIAN ART OF COSTA RICA, plate 93. Another very similar piece is in the Denver Art Museum. Ex. New York collector, prior to 1970.
Period: Panama, Diquis, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Height: 31/4" x Width: 31/2" Weight: 97grams
XRF: Au. 90.6%, Ag.6.3%, Cu. 2.8% Pt. Platimum 1.03%
Price Upon Request
n7055
Panama, Diquis Gold Frog With Large Hind Flippers and Bulbous Eyes
The Frog has a classic body with his front legs becoming the suspension loops. From the mouth emanate two saurian heads back to back, with a mythological significance. The eyes each have a solid pellet inside to make noise when the frog is being worn. A similar example is illustrated in the Catalog, BETWEEN CONTINENTS/BETWEEN SEAS: Precolumbian Art of Costa Rica, fig. 287. A similar frog is also the Rockefeller Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Originally photographed by Justin Kerr #3081, 2001.
Period: Panama, Diquis, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 3 3/4" x Width:3 1/2" Weight: 65 grams
XRF Au.68.5% Ag.03%, Cu. 31%
Price Upon Request
n4028
Panama, Diquis Lost Wax Cast Gold Eagle Pendant
This is a classic representation of a Harpy eagle, with pointed ears and large, curled claws, decorated with a neck band and elaborate bead design under each wing. Exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1985. The eagle was ceremonially "killed" with the wings and tail bent over. There are solder marks on the right wing, below the torso, and on both tips of the tail. From the estate of Jan Mitchell, acquired prior to 1970. Restoration to cracks to the wings and tail tips done by Pre-Columbian expert Robert Sonin. Strong enough to be worn.
Period: Panama, Diquis, c. AD 1200 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Height: 3 7/8" x Width; 4 3/4" Weight 152.7 grams.
$28,000
p1019
Panama, Diquis Lost Wax Cast Gold Frog or Toad Decorated with a Band Along His Back
The animal is in a resting, crouched position, with small hind legs and distinctive suspension loops supporting the front legs. There is a thin edge around the mouth, and the complex eyes suggest that this is from the Diquis region of Panama/Costa Rica zone. The frog is more realistic than most Diquis gold frogs, which are generally depicted with large hind legs. The cast has signs of over-casting at the rear underside. Overcasting is a complicated technique, used to repair casts which had areas of loss during the first casting. Inside, the rear still has sections of the carbon casting core. The suspension loops show wear, indicating that the frog was heavily worn on a pendant in ancient times. From the Jan Mitchell estate, collected prior to 1970.
Period: Panama, Diquis, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 1 5/8" x Height: 15/16" Weight: 36.5 grams.
$7,500
P1028
Panama, Macaracas (Cocle) Circular Gold Disc With Concave Center
The disc is embellished with two bands of small bosses on the narrow rim. There is a pair of suspension holes. On Columbus’ 4th voyage off the coast of Panama, he and his men saw Indians wearing "Mirrors of gold." Illustrated in THE ART OF PRECOLUMBIAN GOLD, p. 119. Ex New York collector, prior to 1970.
Period: Panama, Macaracas, c. AD 800 - 1000
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Diameter 5 3/8" 24.6 Weight: grams
Price Upon Request
n7058
Panama, Macaracas Stye Ceramic Dish Decorated with Stylized Pair of Saurians
The Saurian figures appear in profile in opposite directions and are separated by a narrow band. Violet and red pigments are used to skillfully define the shapes of the creatures. The Saurian figures appear on the front, back, and sides of the dish. Similar saurian designs are illustrated in GUARDIANS OF THE LIFE STREAM by Armand Labbe, fig. 41. Ex- Los Angles collection.
Period: Panama, Maracas stye, c. AD 800 - 1000
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Diameter: 7 1/2"
$2,250
P1056
Panama, Veraguas Cast Gold Shark with Serpent and Crocodile Appendages
This is a variation of the classic Veraguas shark, with three sets of dorsal fins and four sets of Saurian appendages. On the underside of the mouth are two rows of intricately modeled teeth. There are two suspensions loops underneath the mouth. From the Jan Mitchell collection, prior to 1970, by descent to his sons. The top left serpent appendage is missing its eye.
Period: Panama, Veraguas, c. AD 800 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 3 1/4" x Width: 1 7/8" Weight: 65.5 grams.
Price Upon Request
p1046
Panama, Veraguas Cast Gold Shark with Serpent and Crocodile Appendages
This is a variation of a typical Veraguas shark, with three sets of dorsal fins and four sets of appendages. There are two teeth on the top and bottom jaws, with two suspensions loops underneath the mouth. From the Jan Mitchell collection, acquired prior to 1970
Period: Panama, Veraguas, c. AD 800 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 3 1/4" x Width: 1 7/8" Weight: 65.5 grams.
$32,500
p1048
Panama, Veraguas Cast Tumbaga Pair of Composite Animals
This pendant was found in Panama, along the Panamanian border with Colombia, but was influenced by the Darien aesthetic, which spread from eastern Columbia all the way to Honduras. These stylized anthropomorphic figures, representing shamans or priests in hybrid animal form, feature thin arms and simple faces, with birds representing celestial wanderings. There are two suspension loops behind the heads. Lost wax cast of copper and gold alloy. From the estate of Jan Mitchell, prior to 1970. There is an ancient repair to the band that holds the creatures together. A similar piece is reported and displayed in the classic book - Oferbereria Prehispanica de Columbia - Estillo Quimbaya Otras by Jose Perez de Baradas.
Period: Panama, Veraguas, c. AD 1200-1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 3" x Width: 2 5/8" Weight: 62.8 grams.
$8,750
p1026
Panama, Veraguas Lost-Wax Cast Gold Figural Pendant with Triangular Tail
The figure holds a short staff in each hand and wears an elaborate Saurian headdress. Illustrated in Pre-Columbian Art of Mexico and Central America, by Hasso Von Winning, in 1968 on page 379. Also illustrated in The Art of Pre-Columbian Gold, published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1985, (page 107), and in Beyond El Dorado: power and gold in ancient pre-colombia (page 77). Originally from the Estate of Jan Mitchell, by descent to David Mitchell, prior to 1968. From a Texas collector, acquired prior to the 1970s. The upper left extension was professionally bent and welded back into proper place.
Period: Panama, Diquis, c. AD 1000 - 1500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Height: 3 3/8" x Width 3.8: Weight: 127 grams. Au 55.4%, Cu 40.2%,
$57,000
N7048
Panama, Veraguas Speckled Stone Pendant
This rare Veraguas anthropomorphic female bat deity bears a human body, a simian face, and bat-like ears. There is a suspension hole near each shoulder for hanging the pendant on a string. This pendant was exhibited in the Brooklyn Museum and published in the Jay Leff Collection, catalog no.500. Acquired from Sotheby's, May 12, 1983, lot 13.
Period: Panama, Veraguas, c. AD 800 - 1500
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Height: 2.25"
$1,800
88048b
