Item number: G11

Year: AD 700-1530

The results after XRF testing

Material: 10ct Gold (Tumbaga)

Size: 52.5 x 28.8 x 13.3 mm

Weight: 22.35 g

Provenance:

1. Woolley & Wallis 2023

2. The Romy Rey Collection (Part 3)

This is a golden male figure crafted from “tumbaga”, wearing an enormous headdress. In both hands, he holds sceptres, and the figure is unclothed, with male characteristics clearly depicted in the lower half of the body. His feet are tattooed, and the back of the figure is hollow. The statue primarily serves as a decorative item and is part of an ornament. Similar metal objects have been discovered in various ancient Central American civilisations, and this particular figure originates from the Diquís Delta in southern Costa Rica, crafted by the Diquís civilisation. 

“Tumbaga” is an alloy composed of gold and copper, with significant variations in the ratio between the two metals, sometimes containing silver as an impurity. The term “tumbaga” comes from the Spanish conquistadors. Before Columbus’s arrival in Central and South America, ancient civilisations in the region widely used tumbaga for decorative arts and jewellery. Items made from tumbaga included not only human figures but also statues of birds, fish, reptiles, and various fantastical beasts or semi-human creatures. There were also gold ornaments, plates, and more, many of which featured small rings for suspension, allowing them to be worn on the nose, ears, or chest. These metal objects were often hollow-cast and made with such precision that the seams of the moulds were virtually invisible. 

The craftsmanship of ancient American civilisations occasionally involved casting objects where gold, silver, and copper were alternated with meticulous precision, making the pieces appear as a single solid item. Many of these gold artefacts were excavated from ancient Central American tombs, often found on the left side of burial sites facing east, stored in pottery jars. This indicates a local custom of burying large amounts of precious metals with the deceased. 

Historical records state that during his fourth voyage, Christopher Columbus discovered the Chiriquí Lagoon, where he observed tribal leaders and prominent individuals adorned with such ornaments. He noted in his journal that this filled him with hope regarding the region’s wealth in gold and silver, leading him to name the area “Castilla del Oro” (“Land of Gold”). The coastline was subsequently referred to as “Costa Rica” (“Rich Coast”), a name that endures today as the origin of the modern Central American country. Columbus also mentioned that the chiefs wore large gold discs or mirrors hanging from their chests, which they were unwilling to sell or trade. These gold discs typically ranged from three to twelve inches in diameter, and when a chief passed away, all their metal possessions were buried with the body. These details not only highlight the craftsmanship of ancient Central American artisans but also demonstrate the region’s rich metallurgical heritage and abundance of precious metals. 

The “Diquís culture” was located near the Diquís Delta in present-day southern Costa Rica. The name “Diquís” means “great water” or “great river.” A distinguishing feature of this culture was the placement of massive, smooth stone spheres and various human-like statues in public spaces, often adorned with intricate carvings. The purpose and creation methods of these stone spheres remain a mystery to this day, but the discoveries suggest that the Diquís culture possessed advanced craftsmanship and artistic skills.

物件編號: G11

年代: 公元 700-1530 年

XRF分析結果:

材質: 10ct 金 (圖帕伽)

尺寸: 52.5 x 28.8 x 13.3 mm

重量: 22.35 g

來源:

1. 威力士拍賣行 2023

2. 羅米．雷舊藏 (Part 3)

這是一尊由「圖帕伽」所製作的金色男性人像，其頭上戴著巨大的頭飾，雙手各持一根權杖，金像身上並無衣著，由下半身的第一性徵可看出人像為男性，雙足處有紋身。背後則婁空。這個金人像的用途主要是作為裝飾品，是垂飾的一部分。類似此物的金屬製品過去在中美洲的幾個不同文明皆有發現，其中這個金人像是出自哥斯大黎加南部的迪奎斯三角洲所發現，由迪奎斯文明製作。

「圖帕伽」是一種以金與銅所混合的合金，這種合金的金與銅比例差異頗大，有時甚至會發現銀作為雜質。而「圖帕伽」這個名字源於西班牙征服者對他的稱呼。在哥倫布來到中南美洲以前，「圖帕伽」被當地的古文明廣泛使用於裝飾藝術、製作珠寶等用途，以「圖帕伽」所製作的物品除了人像以外，還有如鳥類、魚類、爬行動物、以及各種不可名狀的野獸及形同半人類般怪物的金色雕像，此外也有各種金飾、金盤等等。不少金飾上有著小環用於懸掛，以便將其佩戴在鼻子、耳朵或胸前。這些金屬製品通常是空心鑄造的，並且達到了極高的製作精度，以至於往往看不見鑄模的接縫。這些美洲古文明的工匠有時還會鑄造將金、銀和銅交替排列的物品，這些物品合並得非常精細，幾乎顯得像是一塊整體。

這些金飾大多是在中美洲的古墓中被挖掘出來，經常在墓穴的左側，面向東方的位置，都能發現裝有金像的陶罐。可以看出本地古文明有著將大量貴金屬伴隨亡者下葬的習俗。據典籍紀載，哥倫布在他的第四次航行中發現了奇里基湖（Chiriqui Lagoon），當時他發現所有的部落首領和重要人物身上佩戴著這些及類似的裝飾物，他在日誌中所說，這讓他對該地金銀的富饒充滿了希望，因此他將該地區命名為「金國」（Castilla del Oro）；而該地海岸也因此被稱為「Costa Bica」（即富饒海岸），這個名字至今依然保留，成為如今哥斯大黎加這個中美洲國家的名字由來。哥倫布還提到，首領們佩戴著大型金盤或金鏡，懸掛在胸前，這些物品他們既不願出售，也不願交換。這些金盤的直徑通常從三到十二英寸不等，當部落的首領去世時，他們會將所有的金屬隨同屍體一起埋葬。”這些細節不僅顯示出中美洲古文明工匠的技術水平，也證明了該地區的金屬工藝和金銀資源的富饒。

迪奎斯文化位於今日哥斯大黎加南部的迪奎斯三角洲附近，「迪奎斯」是大水或大河的意思，迪奎斯文化的特徵是會把一種表面相當光滑，上面刻有各式圖案的巨型石球與各式人形雕像擺放在公共區域。這些石球是如何被打造，以及其用途為何至今仍是個謎，但由這些發現可看出當時迪奎斯文化有著很高的工藝水平。