The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 18, 2024
Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)
c. 900–1550
Average: 6.9 x 2.6 cm (2 11/16 x 1 in.)
Location: not on view
Description
Unlike the other gold ornaments in this gallery, 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-here a container with a head (1947.22), a spear thrower (1947.19), and a bird-tipped (1957.25). The subject must have corresponded to a benefit being asked from the gods. 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 sprue (pouring channel) was left in place, creating the button-like form at the bottoms of 1947.24 and 1947.17, which were cast upside down.- Sacred Symbols: Three Thousand Years of Native American Art [FRAME]. Musée Fabre, Montpellier, France (July 16-September 29, 2002); Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, Rouen, France (October 24, 2002-January 13, 2003); Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, 69001 Lyon, France (February 19-April 29, 2003); Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, Rennes, France (May 27-August 18, 2003); Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN (organizer) (October 26, 2003-January 11, 2004).Musee Fabre, Montpellier, France; June 16, 2002- September 29, 2002, Musee des Beaux-Arts, Rouen France; October 24, 2002- January 13, 2003, Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France; February 19, 2003- April 28, 2003, Musee des Beaux-Arts, Rennes, France; May 27, 2003- August 18, 2003, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN; October 26, 2003- January 11, 2004: FRAME exhibition -- "Sacred Symbols:Three Thousand Years of Native American Art."
- {{cite web|title=Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)|url=false|author=|year=c. 900–1550|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1947.19