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Crocodile Pendant
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Of great importance in ancient Panama were beings that combined crocodile features, especially the mouth, with lizard traits, such as the iguana’s head crest. This example also has a back-swept nose, perhaps that of the leaf-nosed bat. The greenstone is a modern replacement for a stone or shell that once completed the crocodile’s body.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, 11th-16th century |
|---|---|
| Date | 1000–1550 |
| Culture / Origin | Panama, Azuero Peninsula, Parita style, 11th-16th century |
| Medium | cast gold, modern greenstone |
| Dimensions | Overall: 6.5 x 5.5 x 4.4 cm (2 9/16 x 2 3/16 x 1 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Art of the Americas |
| Type | Metalwork |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
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