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Nov 1, 2011
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)
c. 900–1550
Cast gold
Overall: 10.3 x 2.7 x 0.8 cm (4 1/16 x 1 1/16 x 5/16 in.)
Gift of the Hanna Fund 1957.25
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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.
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