Central American Native Art Photos

While few in number, the Native Americans in Central America in what are now the countries of Costa Rica, Panama & parts of Columbia left behind a legacy of fine golden scuptures plus some ceramics.

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Veraguas & Diquis-Chiriqui gold eagle pendants from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Gold pendants of birds & figures from Costa Rica & Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Veraguas gold eagle pendant from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Chiriqué culture gold bat-eagle ornament from Costa Rica or Panama at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.
Veraguas & Diquis-Chiriqui gold eagle pendants (700-1500) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Gold pendants of birds & figures (700-1550) from Costa Rica & Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Veraguas gold eagle pendant (700-1500) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Chiriqué culture gold bat-eagle ornament (750-1400) from Costa Rica or Panama at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.
Veraguas gold eagle pendant from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Gold bird ornament from Sinu River, Colombia & Gold frog effigy from Costa Rica at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Veraguas gold frog with double-headed snake pendant from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Coclé gold frog pendant from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.
Veraguas gold eagle pendant (700-1500) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Gold bird ornament (500-1000) from Sinu River, Colombia & Gold frog effigy (800-1200) from Costa Rica at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Veraguas gold frog with double-headed snake pendant (700-1500) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Coclé gold frog pendant (500-1300) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.
Diquis & Tairona gold frog pendants from Costa Rica & Colombia at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Gold crayfish ornament from Costa Rica at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Coclé gold crocodile pendant from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Diquis gold insect deity pendant from Costa Rica at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.
Diquis & Tairona gold frog pendants (500-1600 CE) from Costa Rica & Colombia at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Gold crayfish ornament (800-1200) from Costa Rica at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Coclé gold crocodile pendant (700-1000) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Diquis gold insect deity pendant (500-1520 CE) from Costa Rica at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.
Gold pendant of animal with three heads from Guanecoste Region of Costa Rica at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA.Cast gold deer-head figure pendant of Chiriquí culture, Costa Rica at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold jaguar ornament from Costa Rica at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Gold pendant of man with headdress from Guanecoste Region of Costa Rica at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA.
Gold pendant of animal with three heads (700-1400) from Guanecoste Region of Costa Rica at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA.Cast gold deer-head figure pendant of Chiriquí culture, Costa Rica (11th-16thC) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold jaguar ornament (800-1200) from Costa Rica at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Gold pendant of man with headdress (700-1400) from Guanecoste Region of Costa Rica at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA.
Chiriqui stingray bell pendant from Panama at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.Coclé gold disk with god Sibu figure from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Coclé gold disk with anthropomorphic figure from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Gold pendant with clawed creature from Guanecoste Region of Costa Rica at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA.
Chiriqui stingray bell pendant (400-1550) from Panama at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.Coclé gold disk with god Sibu figure (700-1000) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Coclé gold disk with anthropomorphic figure (700-1000) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.Gold pendant with clawed creature (700-1400) from Guanecoste Region of Costa Rica at New Orleans Museum of Art. New Orleans, LA.
Gold circular plaques from Costa Rica & Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Costa Rican & Panamanian gold masks, pendants, pectorals & cuffs at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Gold jaguar from Panama or Colombia at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Gold double-headed jaguar from Panama or Colombia at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Gold circular plaques (700-1550) from Costa Rica & Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Costa Rican & Panamanian gold masks, pendants, pectorals & cuffs (1-1550 CE) at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Gold jaguar (1000-1500) from Panama or Colombia at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Gold double-headed jaguar (1000-1500) from Panama or Colombia at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Gold double pendant from Veraguas, Panama at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cast gold masked figure pendant of Veraguas culture, Panama at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Cast gold frog pendants of Parita culture, Panama at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold pendants of Twin Warriors in Conte-style from Panama at Kimbell Art Museum. Fort Worth, TX.
Gold double pendant (11th-16thC) from Veraguas, Panama at de Young Museum. San Francisco, CA.Cast gold masked figure pendant of Veraguas culture, Panama (12th-16thC) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Cast gold frog pendants of Parita culture, Panama (12th-16thC) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold pendants of Twin Warriors (c700-1200) in Conte-style from Panama at Kimbell Art Museum. Fort Worth, TX.
Gold Parita-style pendant with two figures from Azuero Peninsula, Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Gold Parita-style pendant with masked figure from Azuero Peninsula, Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Pre-Columbian Panamanian gold figure at Museum of Natural History. New York, NY.Panama Veraguas culture cast gold male figure at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.
Gold Parita-style pendant with two figures (c700-1520) from Azuero Peninsula, Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Gold Parita-style pendant with masked figure (c700-1520) from Azuero Peninsula, Panama at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Pre-Columbian Panamanian gold figure at Museum of Natural History. New York, NY.Panama Veraguas culture cast gold male figure (1000-1500) at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.
Pre-Columbian Panamanian gold crocodile at Museum of Natural History. New York, NY.Coclé gold & stone pectoral with twin figures from Panama at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Panama Coclé culture gold double pendant in form of mythical caymans at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Gold pendants of Two Deer Heads in Conte-style from Panama at Kimbell Art Museum. Fort Worth, TX.
Pre-Columbian Panamanian gold crocodile at Museum of Natural History. New York, NY.Coclé gold & stone pectoral with twin figures (500-1520 CE) from Panama at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.Panama Coclé culture gold double pendant in form of mythical caymans (800-1200) at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Gold pendants of Two Deer Heads (c700-1200) in Conte-style from Panama at Kimbell Art Museum. Fort Worth, TX.
Calima gold masks & objects from southwest Colombia at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.Hammered gold funerary mask from Llama culture, Colombia at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold ornaments from Calima region, Colombia at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Gold ornament of human with earrings from Restrepo, Colombia at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.
Calima gold masks & objects (1000 BCE-800 CE) from southwest Colombia at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.Hammered gold funerary mask from Llama (Calima) culture, Colombia (5th-1stC BCE) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold ornaments (1-700) from Calima region, Colombia at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Gold ornament of human with earrings (500-1200) from Restrepo, Colombia at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.
Hammered gold arm ornament from Yotoco culture, Colombia at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold staff heads from Antioquia, Colombia at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Gold bird-form finials from Sinú region, Colombia at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Tairona gold avian pendant from Colombia at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.
Hammered gold arm ornament from Yotoco (Calima) culture, Colombia (1st-7thC) at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Gold staff heads (500-1000) from Antioquia, Colombia at National Museum of the American Indian. Washington, DC.Gold bird-form finials (500-1500) from Sinú region, Colombia at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Tairona gold avian pendant (1000-1600 CE) from Colombia at Denver Art Museum. Denver, CO.
Gold & crystal necklace & earrings from Tairona region of Colombia at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Tairona gold earrings from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Collection of Quimbaya culture gold figures from Colombia at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.Guanacaste-Nicoya jadeite axe-god pendant from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.
Gold & crystal necklace & earrings (1000) from Tairona region of Colombia at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Tairona gold earrings (1000-1500) from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Collection of Quimbaya culture gold figures from Colombia at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Houston, TX.Guanacaste-Nicoya jadeite axe-god pendant (500 BCE-500 CE) from Costa Rica at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.
Metates stones for grinding Maize from Mesoamerica & Costa Rica at Wichita Art Museum. Wichita, KS.Collection of stone & ceramic vessels & grinding stones from Costa Rica at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Volcanic stone tripod grinding metate with bird's head from Guanacaste-Nicoya zone, Costa Rica at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Feline effigy grinding table from Nicoya, Costa Rica at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.
Metates stones for grinding Maize from Mesoamerica & Costa Rica at Wichita Art Museum. Wichita, KS.Collection of stone & ceramic vessels & grinding stones (metate) (300-1550) from Costa Rica at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Volcanic stone tripod grinding metate with bird's head (300-700) from Guanacaste-Nicoya zone, Costa Rica at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Feline effigy grinding table (Metate) (500-1000) from Nicoya, Costa Rica at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.
Ceramic tripod vessel with anthropomorphized legs from Atlantic zone, Costa Rica at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Ceramic censor with animal from Costa Rica at Barbier Mueller Pre-Columbian Art Museum. Barcelona, Spain.Human head effigy ceramic vessel from Costa Rica at Wichita Art Museum. Wichita, KS.Earthenware seated figure from Nicoya Region, Costa Rica at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.
Ceramic tripod vessel with anthropomorphized legs (1-500) from Atlantic zone, Costa Rica at Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX.Ceramic censor with animal (400-800) from Costa Rica at Barbier Mueller Pre-Columbian Art Museum. Barcelona, Spain.Human head effigy ceramic vessel from Costa Rica at Wichita Art Museum. Wichita, KS.Earthenware seated figure (1000) from Nicoya Region, Costa Rica at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.
Ceramic tripod vessel with human face from Costa Rica at Wichita Art Museum. Wichita, KS.Nicoya-Guanacaste culture ceramic jar in form of Jaguar from Costa Rica at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Earthenware jaguar-effigy vessel from Nicaragua or Costa Rica at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Ceramic vase with feline parts from Nicaragua at Barbier Mueller Precolumbian Art Museum. Barcelona, Spain.
Ceramic tripod vessel with human face (1000-1500) from Costa Rica at Wichita Art Museum. Wichita, KS.Nicoya-Guanacaste culture ceramic jar in form of Jaguar (1000-1500) from Costa Rica at Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, MI.Earthenware jaguar-effigy vessel (1200-1400) from Nicaragua or Costa Rica at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.Ceramic vase with feline parts (1000-1350) from Nicaragua at Barbier Mueller Precolumbian Art Museum. Barcelona, Spain.
Cocle ceramic vessel painted with bird perhaps Tinamou from Panama at LA County Natural History Museum. Los Angeles, CA.Ceramic vase with painted birds from Panama at Barbier Mueller Precolumbian Art Museum. Barcelona, Spain.Coclé shell necklace or gorget from Pacific coast of Panama at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.
Cocle ceramic vessel painted with bird perhaps Tinamou (800-1100) from Panama at LA County Natural History Museum. Los Angeles, CA.Ceramic vase with painted birds (500-1000) from Panama at Barbier Mueller Precolumbian Art Museum. Barcelona, Spain.Coclé shell necklace or gorget (700-1000) from Pacific coast of Panama at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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