Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "128821",
    "label": "Double Bird-Headed Figure Pendant",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}

{
    "id": "128821",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Double Bird-Headed Figure Pendant",
    "description": "Among the pendants shown here are a crustacean (1943.290), an animal-headed figure (1948.18), and two pendants featuring birds (1951.442 and 1946.223). The latter were dubbed aguilas (eagles) by Christopher Columbus, who saw natives wearing them as necklace ornaments. Modern researchers are not as sure of the species shown, but some believe that they are birds of prey because talons and beaks are prominent and often clutch something, in one example here a small, disembodied head that holds a clapper. In both examples, two tufts in the form of crocodiles in profile flank the birds’ heads.",
    "date": "c. 1000–1500",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1951.442",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60740622"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Metalwork"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1951.442/1951.442_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1951.442/1951.442_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1951.442/1951.442_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 7.2 x 9.4 cm (2 13/16 x 3 11/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Costa Rica, Diquís region, 11th-16th century"
    ],
    "accession": "1951.442"
}

{
    "tec": "cast and hammered gold",
    "tombstone": "Double Bird-Headed Figure Pendant, c. 1000–1500. Costa Rica, Diquís region, 11th-16th century. Cast and hammered gold; overall: 7.2 x 9.4 cm (2 13/16 x 3 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Thirty-fifth anniversary gift in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, Gift of their daughter, Helen, 1951.442",
    "collection": "AA - Intermediate Region",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Correspondence from Samuel Lothrop to William Milliken, 18 December 1951, Box 26, Folder 9, William Mathewson Milliken Records, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives."
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1951.442",
    "creditline": "Thirty-fifth anniversary gift in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, Gift of their daughter, Helen",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 06:39:07.276000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1951.442/1951.442_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 128821,
    "dept": "Art of the Americas",
    "coll": "AA - Intermediate Region",
    "med": "cast and hammered gold",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}

{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1951.442/1951.442_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "7d25599396c19aa0"
}