ticketsMember | Make a donation

Double-End Animal Pendant

5th–8th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 360
Pendants of multiple animals joined body-to-body—usually in even numbers—were produced in lower Central America and northwestern Colombia in distinct types for many centuries. In one variety, the creatures are double-ended with an identical head at both top and bottom. The identity of the animals is unclear, and they may well be mythical. They have flat, long snouts, protruding eyes, and open mouths with a single row of teeth. The animals stand side by side, their legs apart, and are connected by rods going through their feet. The pendant was cast from a wax model in a single process.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Double-End Animal Pendant
  • Date: 5th–8th century
  • Geography: Panama
  • Culture: Conte (?)
  • Medium: Gold
  • Dimensions: H. 2 × W. 3 × D. 1 in. (5.1 × 7.6 × 2.5 cm)
  • Classification: Metal-Ornaments
  • Credit Line: Jan Mitchell and Sons Collection, Gift of Jan Mitchell, 1991
  • Object Number: 1991.419.18
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Double-eagle pendant, Initial Style artist(s), Gold, Initial Style
Double-eagle pendant
Initial Style artist(s)
1–500 CE
Pendant with sea mammal, Chiriquí artist(s), Gold, Chiriquí
Pendant with sea mammal
Chiriquí artist(s)
700–1550 CE
Eagle pendant, Chiriquí artist(s), Gold (cast alloy), Chiriqui
Eagle pendant
Chiriquí artist(s)
700–1550 CE
Seahorse pendant, International Style artist(s), Gold, International Style
Seahorse pendant
International Style artist(s)
400–900 CE
Crocodile-head figure pendant, Chiriquí artist(s), Gold, Chiriqui
Crocodile-head figure pendant
Chiriquí artist(s)
1000–1600 CE

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.