Jewelry is one art form which has a dual nature; it
can be seen as pure ornamentation without
deeper significance; or as something of beauty
with a hidden meaning. For the ancient Costa
Ricans, gold taken from streams meant nothing
to them as a raw material. It's glitter had no
value in itself. What gave a lump of gold great
worth was when it was placed in the hands of a
master artist, who then fashioned it into
something not only beautiful, but also profound.
This very adorable turtle is both realistic and
abstract. The Costa Rican artist did not work in
abstraction for the sake of design only, as would
a modern artist. Details had to mean something;
symbols seen as a visual language were
understood immediately. This is why imagery on
jewelry was very specific, intended as a more
than representations of nature. The "clips" on
the fins and twisted chords over the shell can be
interpreted as a type of harness. For someone
wearing this pendant, perhaps even a shaman, it
could represent a person who has conquered the
elements, who comprehends the world of nature
and is able to utilize such knowledge in a
constructive way. As an outward sign of
symbolism this pendant is real and mythical at
once, containing a power that goes beyond gold,
beyond imagination even, allowing us to feel a
beauty within that is truly magic. ....trudy
- (FJ.6156)
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