Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Sinu (Zenu) culture, ca. 1000 to 1450 CE. ca. A beautiful earring made from tumbaga with 53% gold (equivalent to 12k+); cast via the lost wax method with an intricate openwork design, like filigree - but entirely cast in a mold! To create the braided / woven pattern the artisans probably twisted threads of wax together - a painstaking and delicate process! The central loop is an incomplete circle with a gap to fit the loop through a pierced earlobe or septum - although the size of this example suggests this was an earring rather than nose ornament. Size: 2.35" L x 0.6" W (6 cm x 1.5 cm); tumbaga quality: 53% (equivalent to 12k+) gold; 33% copper; 8% silver; weight: 1.8 grams

Provenance: private Ventura County, California, USA collection

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.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#175824

Repaired and restored. Professional restoration with new material to one arm reattached. Break line fissure with adhesive residue on arched filigree area.