Gold Bell Pendant Featuring a Harpy Eagle - FJ.6055, Origin: Costa Rican/Panamanian Border Area, Circa: 500 AD to 1550 AD, Dimensions: 1.25" (3.2cm) high, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Pre-Columbian, Medium: Gold. A wonderfully realistic harpy eagle graces the top of this gold bell pendant. Two bulbous eyes of applied gold stare out at us on either side of the enormous beak. The "all-seeing eyes" of the harpy eagle were desired by all shamans who wished to possess the quality of omnipotence. A strong, hooked beak and remarkably powerful claws exemplify the magnitude of force the bird contains. The harpy eagle is the most powerful eagle in the world and is found only in the South of Mexico, Central America, South America and Costa Rica. The rounded wings and long tail create an illunsion of a cape fit for a king. We cannot easily interpret its symbolic importance, but we do believe that harpy eagles were associated with the highest-ranking members of society. Their mythic roles involved supernatural or extraordinary traits. This gold masterpiece, which silently shimmers in all its glory and mystery before us, is undoubtedly an exceptional work of art. It combines the powerful forces of artistic ingenuity with mythical imagery.

Antiquities
Ancient Jewelry