Page 615 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

491
4 8 9
ANTHROPOMORPHIC AVIAN EFFIGY SHARK

Diquis Diquis
cast gold cast gold
2
7
7
2
7.4X8.2 (2 /8X 3 /4J 2.8 X 4.9 X 10.45 ( ll//8 X ! /8 X4 /8)
Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica, San Jose Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica, San Jose
Another in the series of elaborate Diquis "eagle" Although Diquis gold artifacts are pendants and
pendants, this piece, in addition to large crocodile not freestanding figurines, a few are quite realis-
heads in false filigree emerging from the sides of tic. Here a nurse shark, a species that often
the head, has other smaller versions of this motif cruises near the shoreline, is depicted. The animal
facing forward, along with a more realistic human species that the Diquis chose to portray in gold
face just barely visible beneath the mask. The and that had no important mythological roles in
wings also seem to resemble the gaping mouths of their life frequently have the ability to sting, bite,
snakes or sharks. At the front of this pendant are pinch, poison, or otherwise harm man. M.J.S.
four hooks from which thin occluding plaques
of hammered gold originally hung. M. j. s.

490

AVI AN-HUMAN EFFIGY WITH
CROCODILE AND JAGUAR HEADS

Diquis
cast gold
1
7
10.4 x 12.5 (4 /s x 4 /s)
Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica, San Jose
In this piece, only the forward-facing birdlike
eyes suggest that a human face might be hidden
under the elaborate mask. The hybrid creature
is undoubtedly fantastic: a jaguar head emerges
from the breast, the typical silhouetted crocodile
heads in false filigree adorn the headdress, and
the buzzard's carbuncles, true-to-life fleshy knots
near the base of the hooked beak, have been
pushed forward and made into tiny bells. M.J.S.

614 CIRCA 1492