The Quimbaya Poporo, is a Pre-Columbian artpiece of the classic Quimbaya period, currently exhibited at the Gold Museum in Bogotá, Colombia. Its primary use was as a ceremonial device for the chewing of coca leaves during religious ceremonies. This container kept an alkaline powder (lime) which helps release the components of the alkaloid when the roasted leaves are chewed. The stick was used to take this powder from the container to the mouth. It was made around 300 AC with the lost-wax casting process.
It is believed that the piece was stolen from a burial chamber in the early 1930s, on Loma del Pajarito ("Birdie Hill") near Yarumal in the Antioquia department. At the time, the grave robbing of indigenous tombs was very common, often ending with destruction of important archeological pieces in order to extract the gold.
The Poporo Quimbaya, originally made of tumbaga, a gold and copper alloy - is an unusual piece, with oddly minimalistic lines that give it a modern look. It is one of the most recognized pre-Columbian artpieces, and it is often used as a symbol of Colombia's Indigenous traditions.
13"D 10"H
24K Gold Plated Poporo
Pre-Columbian Figures
