Colombia , Tumbaga Gold Exceptional Tumbaga - Quimbaya artifact ,A majestic Quimbaya King , standing from the northern Region of Colombia. Tumbaga is gold and copper alloy, a detailed handcrafted piece, treated with special ultrasonic cleaning height: 68 x 45 x 50 mm weight: 86,61 grams The Quimbaya civilization was 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 until 99% copper, which imparts beautiful color tonalities to the pieces. The Quimbaya inhabited the areas corresponding to the modern departments of Quindío, Caldas and Risaralda in Colombia, around the valley of the Cauca River. There is no clear data about when they were initially established; the current best guess is around the 1st century BCE. The culture's the most emblematic piece of this culture comes from this period, a form of poporo known as the Poporo Quimbaya, on exhibit at the Bogotá Gold Museum. The most frequent designs in the art pieces are anthropomorphic, depicting men and women sitting with closed eyes and placid expression, as well as many fruits and forms of poporos. Most of the retrieved items are part of funeral offerings, found in the inside of sarcophagi made of hollow trunks. The gold represented a sacred metal and the passport for the afterlife. Provenance: Private collection The Supplier warrants that is has obtained this item in a legal manner. Purchased by the father of current owner on 20th February 1980 in Madrid, Spain, from JACQUES BERKOWITSCH (former in the private collection of an spanish gentleman deceased …