Gold Sculpture of a Musician Holding Two Rattles - FJ.6423, Origin: Costa Rican/Panamanian Border Area, Circa: 500 AD to 1550 AD, Dimensions: 3.25" (8.3cm) high, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Costa Rican, Medium: Gold. Standing naked the figure holds a calabash rattle in each hand. He wears double earspools connected to an arching headdress, fanning out on either side of the head, curled at the ends and ornamented with a series of thick 'spokes' along the outer rim. His coiled necklace is composed of plane rings, while those around his knees and ankles are striated. Most elaborate are the scrolls decorating the back of the head, middle of the back and down the legs. These represent either decorative clothing, body painting or even scarification. The musician's face is very finely modeled, showing expressive detail with eyes closed as if absorbed in the music around him. This figure most likely represents a musician as he would have appeared during ritual ceremonies.

Antiquities
Ancient Central America & Mexico