Poporo Quimbaya
Encyclopedia
Poporo Quimbaya is a precolumbian artpiece of the classic quimbaya
period, currently exhibited in the Gold Museum
in Bogotá
, Colombia
. Its primary use was as a ceremonial device for chewing of coca
leaves during religious ceremonies. It was made around 300
with a lost-wax casting process.
It is believed that the artpiece was stolen from a burial chamber in the early 1930's, on Loma del Pajarito ("Birdie Hill") near Yarumal
in the Antioquia department, where, at the time, the grave robbing
of indigenous tombs was very common, often ending with destruction of important archeological pieces in order to extract the gold.
In 1939 the Republic Bank, purchased the poporo
, as an effort to preserve it from destruction. This began a larger project of preservation of precolumbian goldwork that allowed the creation of Gold Museum
.
The Poporo Quimbaya is an unusual piece, made of tumbaga
, with oddly minimalistic
lines, that give it a modern look. It is one of the most recognized precolumbian artpieces, being often used as a symbol of the indigenous precolumbian culture. It has been depicted in the Colombian currency, in coins and bills.
Quimbaya civilization
The Quimbaya civilization is a South American civilization, noted for spectacular gold work characterized by technical accuracy and detailed designs. The majority of the gold work is made in tumbaga alloy, with 30% copper, which imparts beautiful color tonalities to the pieces...
period, currently exhibited in the Gold Museum
Gold Museum
The Gold Museum is a museum located in Bogotá, Colombia. It displays an extraordinary selection of its pre-Hispanic gold work collection - the biggest in the world - in its exhibition rooms on the second and third floors...
in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. Its primary use was as a ceremonial device for chewing of coca
Coca
Coca, Erythroxylum coca, is a plant in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. The plant plays a significant role in many traditional Andean cultures...
leaves during religious ceremonies. It was made around 300
300
Year 300 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantius and Valerius...
with a lost-wax casting process.
It is believed that the artpiece was stolen from a burial chamber in the early 1930's, on Loma del Pajarito ("Birdie Hill") near Yarumal
Yarumal
Yarumal is a municipality in the Antioquia Department, Colombia. Yarumal was founded in 1787 as San Luis de Gongora. Municipal status was granted in 1821. The current name of Yarumal comes from a local plant belonging to the Moraceae family, known in botanical Latin as Cecropia peltata L...
in the Antioquia department, where, at the time, the grave robbing
Grave robbing
Grave robbery, grave robbing, or tomb raiding is the act of uncovering a tomb or crypt to steal artifacts or personal effects. Someone who engages in this act is a grave robber or tomb raider...
of indigenous tombs was very common, often ending with destruction of important archeological pieces in order to extract the gold.
In 1939 the Republic Bank, purchased the poporo
Poporo
Poporo is a device used by indigenous cultures in present and pre-Columbian South America for storage of small amounts of lime . It is constituted by two pieces: the receptacle, and the lid which includes a pin that is used to carry the lime to the mouth while chewing coca leaves...
, as an effort to preserve it from destruction. This began a larger project of preservation of precolumbian goldwork that allowed the creation of Gold Museum
Gold Museum
The Gold Museum is a museum located in Bogotá, Colombia. It displays an extraordinary selection of its pre-Hispanic gold work collection - the biggest in the world - in its exhibition rooms on the second and third floors...
.
The Poporo Quimbaya is an unusual piece, made of tumbaga
Tumbaga
Tumbaga was the name given by Spaniards to a non-specific alloy of gold and copper which they found in widespread use in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and South America.-Composition and properties:...
, with oddly minimalistic
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
lines, that give it a modern look. It is one of the most recognized precolumbian artpieces, being often used as a symbol of the indigenous precolumbian culture. It has been depicted in the Colombian currency, in coins and bills.