Veragas Gold Tucan Bird Deity Pendant

Panama Circa 500 to 1520 AD  

Impressive gold avian pendant in the Veraguas style cast with exaggerated bulging eyes, pierced spread wings which transform into serpents and broad tail. 

Size  3.25"height  x 4.5"width  x 1.5"dwpth. weight 120g

Provenance: Provenance: Estate of Jan Mitchell, prior to 1980.  Compare with similar in THE ART OF PRECOLUMBIAN GOLD- The Jan Mitchell Collection, 

Tested with XRF (X-ray fluorescence). The elemental analysis shows the object is composed of approximately 91.3% gold, 8.2% silver, and 0.4% copper, corresponding to 21.9 karat gold.
The reported gold content (91.3%) is higher than many typical tumbaga alloys, which suggest this bird was intended for elite ceremonial use.

Silver Content: The silver content (8.2%) is within the range sometimes found in naturally occurring alluvial gold from the Andes and the riverbeds used by pre-Columbian goldsmiths. Silver was not always intentionally added, but could be present naturally or as a byproduct of gold refining.

Copper Content: The copper content (0.4%) is notably low but not impossible for objects made from highly refined or selected gold.

Conclusion: The gold object’s style and manufacturing technique are consistent with pre-Columbian goldwork, especially  Panama, where lost-wax casting and zoomorphic motifs were common.