Isthmo-Colombian Gold on display at The Dallas Museum of Art

Isthmo-Colombian Gold

We visited the exhibit of Isthmo-Colombian Gold on display at The Dallas Museum of Art in April of 2025. There are some really interesting pieces there and is well worth a visit.

ISTHMO-COLOMBIAN GOLD

Gold was valued as a symbol of authority among ancient Indigenous societies in the Isthmo-Colombian Area. It did not hold monetary value but was appreciated for the delicate and technically skilled craftsmanship necessary to work the metal, as well as for the multiple meanings it conveyed through its permanent brilliance: gold never tarnishes by oxidation or discoloration. It was found in waterways and sediments and thus associated with the earth, but also reflected light and shimmered like the sun.

CALIMA GOLDWORK

The rivers flowing through the lush valleys in the Calima region of southwestern Colombia containing gold deposits, which gave rise to a 2,000-year-long goldworking tradition. The examples shown in this case would have adorned elite members of society. Elaborate pectorals and headdress ornaments were likely worn as part of a set, and their glimmering surfaces created a dazzling display of power and authority.