NMNH A391972: Gold-Plated Ornament - King Vulture

Primary Title:
NMNH A391972: Gold-Plated Ornament - King Vulture
Alternate Title: Owner Object Name
Gold-Plated Ornament - King Vulture
Keyword Type: Object Class
Pendant
Keyword Type: Object Sub-class
Zoo-Bird
Keyword Type: Owner Provenience Record Type
Accession docs/letters
Keyword Type: Exam Methods
Visual Microscopy
Identifier: Object Number
NMNH A391972-0
Identifier: Owner Accession Number
A391972-0
Identifier: Owner Catalog Number
181570
Note: Owner Information Source
PreColumbian Master; Panama Gold
Note: Object Description
Open back cast bird pendant with small hemispherical body, small suspension loop in back, two projecting feet in front, ball in ring eyes on sides of head, open, hooked beak.
Note: Owner Accession
Gold-plated ornaments from shaft tombs in vicinity of Sona, Veraguas Panama. presented to teh US national Museum by Mr.Karl P. Curtis. Some were collected by the donor but a majority were acquired from juan Graticos "a professional tomb looter of Sona"
Note: Condition Review
Broken in 2 pieces with some small losses around edges of wings and tail. A large crack/loss is present just above the PR wing, extending into the body. Covered in pinkish/light brown accretion (burial soil?) and light green corrosion over surface. Core appears black.
Note: Follow-up Notes
Appears almost completely mineralized. Not useful for further study
Note: Analysis Recommendations
XRF X-ray radiograph
Time Period: Examination Date
11/17/2008
Place: Object Origin
Geographic Zone: VGC-Pacific Country: Panama Province: Veraguas Site: Sona, Shaft Tombs In Vicinity Of Place Time Period: Site Period
Place: Curation Location
Local place: 1103A00403
Actor: Object Excavator
Sr.Juan Gratacos (?)
Actor: Owner Accession Source
Curtis, Karl P; 1949-Jan-13; Gift; 13 specimens
Actor: Object Owner
NMNH
Actor: Examination Operator
ACH
Condition: Corrosion
Note: Green-surface; Black-core. Under gold surface layer, appears completely black in cross section. Light powdery green corrosion on surface as well as glassy emerald green corrosion on back.
Condition: Coloration
Note: Exterior layer appears shiny gold
Condition: Pseudomorphs
Note: None
Materials:
Gold Alloy Note: Green corrosion and black mineralized core
Technique: Fabrication Method
Cast- Open Back Note: Open back cast with small indentation for body and open backed head. The rest of the body (wings and tail) is thin and flat
Technique: Joinery
Note: All cast
Technique: Finishing
Note: Polished Surface Enrichment. Gold layer on exterior is flaking off revealing black interior
Measurements:
Type:Number of Components Value:1 Units:components
PIDTypeTitleMetadataURL
si_2769165A391972_02dec08_XRF1 for pid si_2769165A391972_02dec08_XRF1Download
si_2769166A391972_a_20081126_ach for pid si_2769166A391972_a_20081126_achDownload
si_2769167A391972_b_20081126_ach for pid si_2769167A391972_b_20081126_achDownload
si_2769168A391972_c_20081126_ach for pid si_2769168A391972_c_20081126_achDownload
si_2769169A391972_d_20081126_ach for pid si_2769169A391972_d_20081126_achDownload
si_2769170A391972_e_20081126_ach for pid si_2769170A391972_e_20081126_achDownload
si_2769171A391972_f_20081126_ach for pid si_2769171A391972_f_20081126_achDownload
si_568e85157144dCSV iconAnalysis Results (NMNH 3919720)Download