Page 616 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

492
DOUBLE-BELL SPIDER EFFIGY

Diquis
cast gold
3
7.4 X 4.4 (2 /8 X 1 /4J
7
Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica, San Jose

Except for suspiciously human forward extremi-
ties, this spider in the center of a web seems very
realistic when compared to most Diquis gold arti-
facts. A bell hangs below the spider's body, which
is itself also a bell. Perhaps the composite piece
was inspired by a spider with its egg case on a web.
M.J.S.

493

LOBSTER WITH EFFIGY TAIL

Diquis
cast gold
2
10.7 x 8.3 (4 /4 x 3*/4j
Museos del Banco Central de Costa Rica, San Jose

This beautiful and very realistic tropical lobster,
locally known as langostina, has been symboli-
cally modified only at the tail, which has been
transformed into stylized crocodile or parrot heads.
M.J.S.

THE AMERICAS 615