Gran Cocle Cast Gold Figural Deity

The composite male deity with animal head with large snout like mouth with open fanged toothy jaws, loop hole at nose, standing with arms out at sizes and at either side of head is a profile head of a serpent creature atop spiral ears,  loop hole behind;  Size 8 cm H x 9 cm W. 3 x 2-3/8 inches W.;  18K gold weight 90.4g.

XRF analysis is consistent with a pre-Columbian gold artifact based on both its composition and stylistic elements. The elemental analysis shows it is made of 18K gold with the following composition:
75.68% Gold (Au)
4.47% Silver (Ag)
19.01% Copper (Cu)
0.84% Iron (Fe)
This composition is consistent with pre-Columbian metallurgy, which commonly used alloys of gold, silver and copper. The figure displays characteristic pre-Columbian design elements including:
Anthropomorphic form with stylized features and decorative spiral motifs
Cast using lost-wax technique, which was a common pre-Columbian metalworking method.
The gold-copper alloy ratio suggests this may be a type of tumbaga, a specific gold-copper alloy that was widely used in pre-Columbian metalwork to give objects a distinctive reddish hue. Pre-Columbian goldsmiths were highly skilled craftsmen who mastered complex techniques including casting, annealing, embossing, and surface treatments.
The ceremonial or ornamental nature of the piece is also typical of pre-Columbian metalwork, as precious metals were primarily used for items of religious and social significance rather than utilitarian purposes.

Provenance: From the estate of Christian Illies (1947-2014), Opelika, Alabama who inherited the collection from his grandfather, Ferdinand Grebien (1877-1976).  Christian Illies’ grandfather, Ferdinand Grebien was born in Austria in 1887 and arrived in Panama in 1911 to work on the construction of the canal. In Colon he founded Grebien, Martinz, a major private construction firm, (with more than 1000 employees) that went on to
build many major institutions in Panama, including the Municipal Palace of the  District of Colon. Grebien was an avid lifelong collector of ancient Panamanian gold. We illustrate a black and white photo of Ferdinand Grebien displaying part of his gold collection at the 1964 World’s fair in NY.