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Source Description
Unlike the other gold ornaments made in the isthmian region, tunjos were not worn; instead, they served as offerings that were deposited in sacred places such as lagoons and caves. They often depict humans who hold something.
Perhaps because they were not meant for display, tunjos were not finished after lost-wax casting. Flaws remain uncorrected, surfaces are unpolished, and gold that backed into the channel used to pour the molten metal into the mold was left in place.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
125278
label
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
125278
contentType
object
title
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)
description
Unlike the other gold ornaments made in the isthmian region, tunjos were not worn; instead, they served as offerings that were deposited in sacred places such as lagoons and caves. They often depict humans who hold something.
Perhaps because they were not meant for display, tunjos were not finished after lost-wax casting. Flaws remain uncorrected, surfaces are unpolished, and gold that backed into the channel used to pour the molten metal into the mold was left in place.
date
c. 900–1550
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60778051
genreSpecific
Metalwork
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 6.9 x 1.9 x 0.3 cm (2 11/16 x 3/4 x 1/8 in.)
cul
Colombia, Muisca style
accession
1947.24
Source extras
tec
cast gold
tombstone
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine), c. 900–1550. Colombia, Muisca style. Cast gold; overall: 6.9 x 1.9 x 0.3 cm (2 11/16 x 3/4 x 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, gift of their daughter Helen, 1947.24
collection
AA - Intermediate Region
creditline
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Humphreys, gift of their daughter Helen
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:28:15.744000
sourceId
125278
dept
Art of the Americas
coll
AA - Intermediate Region
med
cast gold
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
1ae7f736a4bebabb