Gold Votive Figure (Tunjo) Musica Culture

Description

This piece is a votive figure from the ancient Muisca Civilization in what is now Colombia. These votive figures, called Tunjo, were part of important ceremonies worshiping the goddess Guatavita. Due to the abundance and importance of gold in the Muisca Civilization, these worship ceremonies involved throwing golden tunjos, gold power, and other gold artefacts into Guatavita’s lake.

Object data

Accession number

HCM 309

Materials

Gold; Metal

Collection

Dimensions (cm)

Provenance

File of material relating to a gold figurine described as being flat with soldered features. Includes photocopy of object description sheet which includes sketch of object (date unspecified); photocopy of extract from publication with text by Douglas Newton entitled 'The Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection: Masterpieces of Primitive Art' (Thames & Hudson, 1980) containing images of goldwork of the Muisca people of Precolumbian Columbia. Described as being typically formed of flat, triangular sheets of metal with details indicated in wire; photocopy of extract from publication in English and Spanish entitled 'Masterworks: The Gold Museum' (Banco de la Republica, Museo del Oro Santafe de Bogota, 2000). Contains images of objects by the Muisca people; delivery receipt for couriers who transported unspecified item(s) from Cedar Carrillo, Museo del Oro, Santafe de Bogota, Columbia, to a docent (name withheld), Hunt Museum (10 July 1997).

Place of collection

Culture

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