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Pectoral

100 BCE–800 CE
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
Calima leaders of the Yotoco period wore resplendent regalia in life and in death. The faces depicted on the diadem and pectoral have nose and ear ornaments, revealing how these objects would have been worn in life. The ruler’s regalia also included cuffs and greaves (shin armor), giving the overall effect of a body covered in gold. As the wearer moved, the accoutrements would have shimmered and made sound. A gold-sheathed spear thrower was a final embellishment, the ultimate symbol of luxury and authority.




Durante el período Yotoco, los líderes del valle de Calima llevaban, tanto en la vida como en la muerte, resplandecientes ropajes y objetos suntuarios de orfebrería. Las narigueras y orejeras que adornan los rostros retratados en la diadema y el pectoral muestran la manera en la que se llevaban puestos. Los ropajes del líder incluían también grebas y puños, dando así una visión general de lo que hubiera sido un cuerpo recubierto de oro. Al moverse, sus accesorios seguramente brillaban y resonaban. La vaina de oro de un lanzadardos era una decoración final, símbolo supremo de opulencia y autoridad.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pectoral
  • Date: 100 BCE–800 CE
  • Geography: Colombia
  • Culture: Calima-Yotoco
  • Medium: Gold
  • Dimensions: H. 8 3/4 × W. 11 in. (22.3 × 28 cm)
  • Classifications: Metalwork-Ornaments, Metalwork-Jewelry
  • Credit Line: Museo del Oro, Banco de la República, Bogotá (O03331)
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing