The harpy eagle had great mythological
significance in Costa Rican art. The great
bird,
both beautiful and tierce, has been the
subject of
devotion and adoration for centuries. The
gold
masterpiece which silently shimmers in all
its
glory and mystery before us is
undoubtedly an
exceptional work of art. It combines the
powerful
forces of artistic ingenuity with mythical
imagery.
Two bulbous eyes of applied gold stare
out at us
on either Bide of the enormous beak. The
"all
seeing eyes" of the harpy eagle were
desired by
all shamans who wished to possess this
quality
of omnipotence. A strong, hooked beak
and
powerful claws exemplify the magnitude
of force
the bird contains. The harpy eagle is the
most
powerful eagle in the world and is found
only in
the south of Mexico, Central America,
South
America and Costa Rica. It was
exclusively
associated with the highest-ranking
members of
society. The crest, rounded wings and
long tail
are adorned with a beautiful and delicate
gold
filigree. The ancient artist has cleverly
transformed the claws into two loops
which lead
us to believe that it was worn as a
pendant. The
entire composition is full of dynamic
energy. At
any moment, this exquisite golden bird
may take
us on a flight back in time to the ancient
magical
world of ritual and fantasy.
- (FJ.6043)
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