Ancient Tairona Crystal Cylinder Beads, Round 20k Gold Beads, and Eagle Pendant

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Ancient Tairona Crystal Cylinder Beads, Round 20k Gold Beads, and Eagle Pendant

About the Item

Twenty-two rock crystal cylinder beads alternating with round gold beads with a black stone eagle pendant. The stone beads and pendant are said to be from the Tairona people of Colombia, South America. They have been made entirely without the use of metal tools by the use of abrasives, drills and string saws. The crystal beads are from 7 mm to 9 mm in diameter and range in length from 1.3 cm to 2.4 cm. The drill holes are 5 mm in diameter on the ends and taper to the centers where they meet. The hourglass shape of the drill holes can be clearly seen through the sides of the cylinders. The black bird pendant is 3.4 cm in height. It is 1.45 cm wide and from the tip of the beak to the back of the head it is 1.7 cm. It is drilled through the neck for suspension. The drill hole is 4.5 mm in diameter. The back of the piece is flat. The black stone bird is probably a representation of the magnificent Harpy eagle, the largest raptor in the Amazon basin. It is schematic in representation with the beak sharply upturned as if looking up to the sky. Two small wings are either side of the body; a trapezoid at the bottom indicates the spread tail feathers. The head displays the notched crown motif which was a sign of kingship since the earliest times in the Olmec cultural region to the north in Mesoamerica. Whether this is the same symbolic language is not known, but it seems unlikely that it is a coincidence. The six largest round gold beads are 1.1 cm in diameter. The remaining round gold beads graduate in size 1 cm down to 7.5 mm. There is a 7 mm round gold bead in either side of the pendant. There are a pair of rock crystal beads on either side of these gold beads. They are small (8 mm in diameter and 5 mm in length and make the transition from the strand to the pendant. The gold clasp is a hook and beading tips, the hook made from a strip of gold with the end rolled up at the end of the hook. The beading tips are spheres with a strap of flattened wire attached to the bordered rim on a raised disc to either side of the openings. This hides the knots at the end of the cord on which the beads are strung. The beading tips continue the look of the spherical beads and are also incorporated into the design of the clasp. The necklace is 24 inches (62 cm). The necklace weighs 80 grams.