Colombia Goldsmiths Prehispanic Gold Repro in Lucite Paperweight OPORO QUIMBAYA

Description

Colombia Goldsmiths Prehispanic Gold Repro in Lucite Paperweight OPORO QUIMBAYA
Handmade gold reproduction of a prehispanic artifact in the Gold Museum. Lucite Paperweight, Reproduction from the Gold Museum. Approximately 2 3/4 X 2 3/4 X 1 inches. Very good condition.
Poporo is a device used by indigenous cultures in present and pre-Colombian South America for storage of small amounts of lime produced from burnt and crushed sea-shells. It consists of 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. Since the chewing of coca is sacred for the indigenous people, the poporos are also attributed with mystical powers and social status.
In Colombia, poporos are found in archaeological remains from the Chibcha, Muisca, and Quimbaya cultures among others. The materials used in the early periods are mainly pottery and carved stone. In classic periods gold and tumbaga are the most frequent: an example of this is the Poporo Quimbaya exhibited in the Gold Museum which is a national symbol. At the present time, the indigenous people of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta still use poporos made with the dried fruits of a plant of genus cucurbita (totumo), in the traditional way.
_gsrx_vers_859 (GS 7.0.21 (859))