CALIMA gold dipper ( tumbaga) ca. 100 B.C.- A.D. 1000 extremely rare ! CALIMA culture( 2 oz.-6 inc.x 1inc.) Start Price USD 299.00 Current Price USD 299.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, July 18, 2008 End Time Monday, July 28, 2008 Location Waxahachie, TX See more about ' CALIMA gold dipper ( tumbaga) ca. 100 B.C.- A.D. 1000' Description As I have said in my past auctions that I will bring out of my personal collection  some of my rarest pieces in tumbaga, here is perhaps one of the most beautiful and rarest of them all !.The hills of the upper-and mid-Calima river region and the flat part of the Cauca Valley province in COLOMBIA,are home to remains of settlements dating back almost 9000 years. This region was occupied by societies that lived in  centralized  states ,around 1500 B.C. societies existed in America whose socioeconomic organization led to the rise of specialist,such as goldsmiths.American metallurgy had its origins in Peru , but it gradually spread over a wide area which included much of south western Colombia . In the Andes, the impulse for metallurgical innovation came from religious thought and the elite who held power. Metals were used to materialise the ideology that governed evetryday life.the presence of zoomorphic and anthropomorphic receptacles and outstanding group of pieces denominated " alfileres " elongated pins cast from gold and from an alloy of gold and cooper called " tumbaga ". which are thought to have been used for extracting lime from " poporos ".People's physical features and details of their everyday activities can be seen in the pottery vessels that belonged to farmers in the LLAMA period ( 1500 to 100 B.C. ).Fantastic , mythical  beings with mixture of human, feline, amphibian , bat and snake features and characteristics attempt to capture the strength, bravery,ferocity and agility of this animals.In the YOTOCO period ( 100 B.C. to 1300 A.D.) goldwork reached its highest splendor wich is the production of spectacular objects,pectorals , funerary masks,and receptacles of varying types,and in contrast the finest cast pieces are miniatures- the pins or lime dippers topped with birds,human figures and imaginary animals.This particular and incredible piece is topped with two of the figures from the mythology of the CALIMAS,they are the OWL and the MONKEY.It was their believe that the owl represents the air,the opening of the universe,and the monkey represents mother earth.It was their believe that one can't go without the other and once together they can't be separated in order not to rupture the spirit bondage.Finely cast with the tapering shaft terminating in a banded neck and surmounted by an elaborate anthropomorphic figure of a monkey in a crunching position  and stylized owl resting on his back with a beautiful crested head.This  incredible piece as been examined by a group of experts ( archaeologist and curators ) and considered to be authentic and whose names will be given with a certificate of authenticity and provenance.and if you have access to the " pre-columbian Art" catalog from " Sotheby's ,november 23,1998. You will find in page 31, 2 of this pins for sale with the starting price of 3000.oo to 7.000.oo dollars each.!...so..this is a incredible opportunity for the real collector to own a similar piece for a fraction of the price that this items were offered by this auction company.and please....bid with confidence.                                                             Thank's    MHM Place a Bid!