A fine Sinú Gold Bird Pendant, ca. 500 - 1000 CE Gods & Goddesses A carved leg like this

A carved leg like this example may have served as a model for a larger sculpture or to teach apprentice sculptors how to replicate a master style

assembled their collection of Persian

using the traditional concentric circle and line design and diminishing square design in subtle and unusual color combinations

The technique of enameling and gilding—introduced in the 12th century—reached its zenith during the 13th century under Mamluk rule

Pearl shells

A fine Sinú Gold Bird Pendant, ca. 500 - 1000 CE Gods & Goddesses A carved leg like thisPerhaps more than any other Sin works of art, this charming figurative pendant offers a tantalizing glimpse into Sin cosmology and mythology as well as of their appreciation for the natural environment. With its outstretched wings, curved beak, and trapezoidal body, it displays a perfection and abstract purity of form. This archaic motif is based upon the powerful birds of prey (eagles, vultures, hawks, etc.) that signify shamanic power and supreme