Cast gold pectoral of a chief or priest

Popayan AD 1100-1500
Colombia, South America
Ethno 1938 7-6.1

Many centuries before any European contact, native American goldsmiths had independently discovered and developed all the principal techniques of gold-working, including hammering casting and gilding. Casting techniques were in widespread use by the first millennium AD and feature prominently in the varied regional traditions of Colombia. Continuous experimentation also led to the development of different alloys. The most common of these was a blend of gold and copper known as tumbaga that had a lower melting point than pure gold and was less brittle than pure copper. This meant that it could be more easily worked to fashion complex objects such as this pectoral that was made using the lost-wax method. Although the striking plumed headdress worn by the central figure might appear at first sight to have been made with wire filigree, the grooves were in fact carved on the surface of the original wax model. The spectacular feathered headdress is complemented by a distinctive crescent form beneath the feet that represents the fan of tail feathers typical of powerful raptorial birds. Together these allude to the notion of shamanic flight – the visionary soul quests undertaken by learned priests and leaders in search of hidden spirit knowledge. In this case the central figure has two hybrid creatures clinging to his upper arms, and is flanked by four small avian attendants who will accompany him on his journey.