The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of November 5, 2024

Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)

Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)

c. 900–1550

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.
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art Handbook. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958. Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 383 archive.org
  • Winnipeg, Canada: Winnipeg Art Gallery Association, Civic Auditorium; April 21-May 19, 1957. "Art of the Americas Before Columbus", exh. cat. no. 21, p. 10, not repr.
    New York, NY: Museum of Modern Art; January 26-March 26, 1954. "Ancient Arts of the Andes," exh. cat. repr. in black and white, p. 151, fig. 178.
  • {{cite web|title=Tunjos (Votive Offering Figurine)|url=false|author=|year=c. 900–1550|access-date=05 November 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1947.23