METAL. 



203 



the extremities. Moreover flattening suggests hammering, which plays no part 

 in ceramic technique, but which does belong to metal technique. It is interesting 

 to note therefore where the metal technique (or rather the effects of it) has been 

 borrowed by the potter (see PI. XIV, figs. 6, c and d). 



A figurine of two frogs united by the fusion of two adjacent hindfeet and also 

 by a tiny rod connecting the heads, is shown in figure 345. Here all the forefeet 



Fig. 345- Two united images of the frog in base metal 

 plated with gold ; from El Banco. '/' 



Fig. 346. Two gold figurines of the frog united by 

 bands of twisted wire. V' 



are simple rings for suspension. The group was cast in base metal, then entirely 

 covered by a thin layer of gold, which has been removed in places from the edges 

 by flaking or by the disintegration of the base metal. This specimen is from 

 El Banco, Mount Chiriqui. In figure 346, the two frogs are united by two bands 

 of twisted wire, which may have been cast separately from the frogs themselves. 

 The rings that take the place of the two adjacent forelegs are very much worn 

 by the thread from which the group was once suspended. 



Two of the gold figurines of frogs are reproduced in color (PI. XL VIII. figs, a 

 and b). The head of the smaller of these (fig. a) is ornamented with what appear 

 to be two gold wires, each coiled on itself at both ends, a stylistic way of rep- 

 resenting the snake's head (see fig. / and text-fig. 354). 

 The coils however are not visible from the ventral surface 

 and were evidently cast with the rest as one piece. The larger 

 specimen (fig. 6) has large eyes in the shape of sleigh-bells, 

 each supplied with a small ball of metal, apparently of copper 

 or a low-grade alloy of copper and gold. This is without 

 doubt the frog mentioned by Bollaert, 1 as it agrees with his 

 description even to color and weight. 



All the foregoing may be said to belong to the metallic 

 type of frog. An exception that proves the rule is seen in 



figure 347, which is a ceramic type of frog (compare with fig. 100). The body 

 is short and high and there is no flattening of the hindfeet. The eyes in this 

 case are also prominent and bell-like. The ancient American bell may have been 

 derived from such a rendering of the animal eye. 



In the Meredith Rowland collection at the Metropolitan Museum, there is a 

 gold frog which like the preceding has not the flattened hindfeet (fig. 348). It is 

 a fine specimen with a nose decoration of spirals, a herring-bone pattern down the 



Fig. 347. Gold image of 

 a frog ; ceramic type. '/ 



1 Op. cit., 31 and 32. 



