Name: Le Chaman Diquís
Brand: Les Trésors de Victoire
SKU: DIQUIS-14CT-1115G-001
Price: 2495.00 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock

Front view of the 14ct Diquís-style pendant and brooch with Victoire seal

Le Chaman Diquís

$2,495.00

A convertible pendant and brooch in 14ct yellow gold, 53mm long and 11.15g. The figure holds two pointed staffs across the body; paired spirals frame the face. A wide enhancer bail and fitted pin allow it to be worn on a necklace or a jacket.

The Diquís reference

Diquís names an archaeological region in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. Between about 700 and 1550 CE, goldworkers there made cast figures of animals, humans and beings shown in transformation. Museum records describe shamans or specialists wearing masks and ceremonial dress, while gold ornaments could signal social position, accompany burials or circulate in exchange.

The paired upper spirals, animal-like face and two objects held across the body place this design close to the wider family known as Darién pendants, made in regional variations from Colombia into Central America. The Met’s Diquís bird-headed pendant and the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum of Costa Rica provide context for these figures, their masks and ceremonial role.

Probable provenance

Its close connection to Diquís imagery points more naturally to Costa Rica as the probable source of this modern jewel. No hallmark, maker’s mark or document confirms its workshop or country of manufacture. It is a modern replica inspired by Diquís and Darién forms, not an archaeological artefact.

Gold and value

XRF testing produced a surface reading consistent with 14ct yellow gold. At 58.5% nominal fineness, the 11.15g gross weight gives a theoretical fine-gold equivalent of about 6.52g, before allowing for the pin, solder or other non-gold components.

The asking price is AUD 2,495. Its value includes a substantial gold weight, wearable two-function construction and distinctive form; future value is not guaranteed.