The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

Gift of Mrs. E.W. St. Pierre.

Gift of Mrs. Ferdinand C. Smith and Mr. L. Hawley Hoffman.

Cast gold ring. Large beaver face at centre, with a carved leg at each side of the face. Beaver's large teeth extend to lower rounded chin edge; the tops of its ears extend along the upper, flatter edge. There's a notch in the upper edge, above the centre of the face. Slightly stippled surface. Front of ring is quite wide; the band narrows substantially toward the back. (No visible artist inscription.)

Group of five gilded discs (parts a-e) with two suspension holes near rim. Corroded and worn. a) Flat, thin and round body with a central protrusion surrounded by a repousse band of seven profile heads with two tassels. b) Flat, thin and round body with a central protrusion surrounded by a repousse band of five profile heads with two tassels. c) Flat, thin and round body with a central protrusion surrounded by a repousse band of six profile heads with two tassels. Slighlty cracked. d) Flat, thin and round body with a central protrusion surrounded by a repousse band of seven profile heads with two tassels. Feather impression in patina. e) Flat, thin and round body with a central protrusion surrounded by a repousse band of six profile heads with two tassels.

Group of four gilded discs (a-d) with two suspension holes near rim. Each is flat and thin with a round body. Body has a central protrusion surrounded by a repousse band of four profile heads with two tassels. Corroded and worn. Part d also has minor cracks.

Important Panamanian chiefs were buried with embossed gold plaques, symbols of power and status. Gold plaques with depictions of mythical beings were also worn by leaders to enhance their power and connect them to the supernatural world. This plaque has eight small holes, probably used to attach the ornament to clothing. The human face has the snarling, fanged mouth of a feline, suggesting his transformation into a supernatural being.

Museum Expedition 1931, Museum Collection Fund

Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

Gold bracelet with an oval design at the front-centre. The decoration shows a dove facing right, on a flowering branch inside an incised oval. Both long edges have a plain, linear border. The bracelet is wider at the centre, tapering toward each squared end where it has a single slotted hook clasp. The inside is plain, but has mottled marks over the surface due to the manufacture technique.