Colombia, Muisca style / c. 900–1550
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine) as metalwork (Colombia, Muisca style · c. 900–1550).
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.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this metalwork as cast gold.
The museum's collection notes: 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.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtTunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)Original explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.