Breast Plaque 9th-15th century

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the overall radiant quality of this gold breast plaque. Its smooth, reflective surface is so alluring. Editor: Indeed, it possesses a captivating luminescence. This gold relief sculpture, known as a Breast Plaque, originates from the Veraguas peoples between the 9th and 15th centuries. Today, it resides here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Let's delve into what this piece communicates about its context. Curator: I'm most interested in how the interplay of rounded forms contributes to a harmonious balance. Note the concentric rings that cascade from the central boss. What figure do you see in the center? Editor: If we look closely, we can see a human figure that’s potentially understood to be androgynous, lying on their back. When discussing gender in a pre-colonial context, we must consider fluidity beyond the binary. This form of leadership perhaps embodies male and female energies in one powerful being. The application of lost wax casting, in this instance, gives clues to ancient metal-smithing methods used in present-day Panama. Curator: Its production surely held enormous cultural weight. Metalwork held a prestigious place in society at the time. But if we look closer, what can the details along the edges suggest to us? Editor: Those tiny repetitive shapes almost mimic beads, so the effect certainly borders on the ornamental, something not reserved simply for functional value, as an addition it acts as its own agent. Such careful ornamentation elevates its value, underscoring the leader’s status, and could have even facilitated certain types of social discourse during wear. Curator: Absolutely, its role goes far beyond mere decoration. What do you feel examining it? Editor: Its warm tone feels somehow hopeful despite its obscured meaning. What’s been particularly enlightening for me has been reflecting on this breastplate's visual balance as it relates to possible concepts of androgyny. Curator: And for me, it’s this reflection on indigenous cultural sophistication, far beyond the often oversimplified accounts presented in popular culture, that remains most fascinating.