Pair of Cuffs

Unknown

14th–16th century · Gold · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Ancient Americans used gold primarily to make objects that adorned the head, neck, and upper torso. Headresses, pectorals, pendants, and ornaments for ear and nose are the most common forms; those for arms, hands, and legs number only a few. Pairs of gold cuffs for arms, and occasionally those for ankles, have been found in Isthmian and Colombian tombs. Arm cuffs - some cover the full length of the lower arm - are plain or embellished with a variety of repoussée patterns that are worked the length of the cuff on both sides of the opening.

Artist

Unknown

Date

14th–16th century

Medium

Gold

Culture

Veraguas (?)

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Mica Ertegün, 2008