Choice Quimbaya Electrum Gold Figural Pendant, 48 grams

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
Showcasing an extraordinary array of artifacts and art, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial treasures, fossils, fine and visual arts, and more! All ancient items are ethically sourced and legally available for sale. Enjoy the ease of in-house shipping for a seamless experience! Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Quindio region, Quimbaya culture, ca. 5th to 10th century CE. A striking electrum pendant depicting a standing nude male figure, likely representing a high-status lord. The figure's head features a suspension loop on the verso, and his cupped hands form additional loops. Although nude, he is adorned with intricate wirework, symbolizing opulent accessories such as a headdress, nose ornaments, necklace, earrings, armbands, and a waistband. The Quimbaya people are renowned for their skill in goldwork, producing intricately crafted objects with high gold and silver content, often in tumbaga or electrum, alloys of gold, copper, and silver. Their metalwork, especially in the form of pendants, figurines, and ceremonial items, reflects social hierarchy, spirituality, and connections to cosmology. Size: 3" L x 1.5" W (7.6 cm x 3.8 cm); gold quality: 53.9% to 54.5% (approx. 12K+ to 13K+); silver quality: 29.7% to 31.9%; weight: 48 grams.
  
  Compare to a similar example in the Bogota Gold Museum which is also featured as figure # 414 published in the book "El Dorado: Exhibits Held by the Museum of Gold" by Banco de la Republica, Bogota, Colombia & Antonio Panesso Robledo, published 1975.
  
  Provenance: private Parker, Colorado, USA collection; ex-Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-Carlos Rodriguez collection, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 2008
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #190155

  Condition

  Surface pitting and abrasions. Loss to part of the loop on the left hand and losses to spirals on the top of the headdress. Overall nice condition.
• Shipping Info

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