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Unlike other functional objects sometimes wrought out of goldーlike needles or fishhooks -- tweezers were created for both a spiritual and utilitarian purpose. In many ways, these tweezers exhibit symbolism sacred to the Calima people of Southwest Colombia: gold was the chosen material because it glistened like the “sweat of the Gods” and the circle at the center of the object parallels what was known as a symbol of the sun.In order to make this delicate object, metalsmiths would hammer portions of gold into thin sheets and then cut to attain a desired shape. The clean, raised design added on this tweezer was created by lightly hammering the symbols from the reverse with another tool.
Page data
- Page
- 1
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- cf194a9906da4e6f
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 17724
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
{
"id": "17724",
"sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.2057",
"contentType": "object",
"stage": "normalized",
"title": "Crescent-Shaped Ceremonial Tweezers with a Circular Top",
"description": "Unlike other functional objects sometimes wrought out of goldーlike needles or fishhooks -- tweezers were created for both a spiritual and utilitarian purpose. In many ways, these tweezers exhibit symbolism sacred to the Calima people of Southwest Colombia: gold was the chosen material because it glistened like the “sweat of the Gods” and the circle at the center of the object parallels what was known as a symbol of the sun.In order to make this delicate object, metalsmiths would hammer portions of gold into thin sheets and then cut to attain a desired shape. The clean, raised design added on this tweezer was created by lightly hammering the symbols from the reverse with another tool.",
"provenance": "Mrs. S. Wellford Randolf [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1979, by gift.",
"date": "700-1521",
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"imageCount": 1,
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"source": "import",
"dimensionsRaw": "2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm)"
}
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Document identity
{
"localId": "17724",
"label": "Crescent-Shaped Ceremonial Tweezers with a Circular Top",
"core": "obj",
"dtoType": "object",
"citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.2057"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "17724",
"sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.2057",
"contentType": "object",
"stage": "normalized",
"title": "Crescent-Shaped Ceremonial Tweezers with a Circular Top",
"description": "Unlike other functional objects sometimes wrought out of goldーlike needles or fishhooks -- tweezers were created for both a spiritual and utilitarian purpose. In many ways, these tweezers exhibit symbolism sacred to the Calima people of Southwest Colombia: gold was the chosen material because it glistened like the “sweat of the Gods” and the circle at the center of the object parallels what was known as a symbol of the sun.In order to make this delicate object, metalsmiths would hammer portions of gold into thin sheets and then cut to attain a desired shape. The clean, raised design added on this tweezer was created by lightly hammering the symbols from the reverse with another tool.",
"provenance": "Mrs. S. Wellford Randolf [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1979, by gift.",
"date": "700-1521",
"citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/57.2057",
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"source": "import",
"dimensionsRaw": "2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm)"
}
Document source extras
{
"cul": "Calima",
"med": "hammered gold alloy",
"creator_ids": [
"31451"
],
"collection_ids": [
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],
"exhibition_ids": []
}
Page context
{
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"url": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/raw/PL9_57.2057_Fnt_BW_C79.jpg",
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