The Journey of the Quimbaya Gold
Learn about the journey of the Quimbaya collection from its discovery to the halls of the Museum of America today
By Museo de América
A project of the Museum of the Americas and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH)
Set of anthropomorphic containers (5th century AD to 7th AD) by Quimbaya Archaeological RegionMuseo de América
This is the last of a four-part series that will introduce you to some of the characteristics of the Quimbaya societies. Discover the fascinating path of Quimbaya artifacts, from their original context to their present display in a museum.
Photograph of grave robbersMuseo de América
What is Huaquería?
Huaquería, or guaquería, is the illegal looting of archaeological sites. The term originates from "huaca," meaning pre-Hispanic sacred spaces in the Andes. This practice has occurred globally throughout history.
Details of the Law of June 13, 1833Museo de América
Huaquería in the 19th century in Colombia
The law of 13 June 1833 decreed that the "discoveries of treasures" from the "tombs, temples, shrines and guacas of the Indians" should go to the "inventors", that is, to the discoverers.
The "gold rush" for guaquería reached its peak in the second half of the 19th century, which coincided with the migration of people to the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Risaralda.
Colombian legislation underwent radical transformations starting in 1833. In 1906, President Rafael Reyes Prieto decreed a ban on the removal of archaeological objects from the country.
The Quimbaya TreasureMuseo de América
The discovery of the Quimbaya "treasure"
The discovery of the "treasure" was published in the press shortly after it was looted in 1890. The pieces were taken to Bogotá, to the house of Juan Pablo Jaramillo Lalinde, to be exhibited to the curious and specialists, and to organize their sale.
Vedovelli's catalogueOriginal Source: Colombian Institute of Anthropoly and History's (ICAHN)
The Vedovelli Catalogue
The sale included a catalogue prepared by Carlo Vedovelli-Breguzzo, an Italian member of the Geographical Society of Rome and founder of an import-export company called Museo Commerciale Italiano in 1891.
Archive photographMuseo de América
The catalogue, published in French and given to ambassadors of various countries, provided a detailed description and photographic record of the Quimbaya "treasure". This document helped to formally establish the size of the collection.
Official Gazette of Colombia, July 1892Museo de América
A national acquisition
In 1891, the Colombian government under President Carlos Holguín purchased most of the Quimbaya treasure, securing a significant piece of cultural heritage, following a report by Ernesto Restrepo, member of the Madrid and Chicago Exhibition Commission.
1892 Madrid Historical-American ExhibitionMuseo de América
International Exhibitions of the IV Centenary
To participate in the exhibitions, the first in Madrid in 1892 and the second in Chicago, the Colombian government selected several archaeological collections, including the "Treasure of the Quimbayas". The Madrid exhibition was called the Historic-American Exhibition.
The goal was to depict the level of development of the indigenous people prior to the discovery of America, as part of two international exhibitions.
1892 Madrid Historical-American ExhibitionMuseo de América
At the heart of Colombia's exhibit space, the Quimbaya artifacts were displayed in a prominent hexagonal case within Madrid's Palace of the National Library and Museums (now the National Library and National Archaeological Museum).
Document of the delivery of the Quimbaya Treasure to the Queen RegentMuseo de América
A gift for Queen Maria Christina of Habsburg
On May 4, 1893, after the Historical-American Exposition had ended, Colombian Minister Plenipotentiary Julio Betancourt officially handed over the 'Treasure' to the Queen Regent in an act of thanks for her arbitration on the border dispute with Venezuela.
Carlo Vedovelli-Breguzzo CatalogMuseo de América
The Treasure in the National Archaeological Museum
According to the Official Journal of Colombia in July 1892, the "treasure" was to be donated to a museum in the capital. For this reason, the Queen gave the collection to the National Archaeological Museum.
The Quimbaya Treasure was absent from the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Colombia still participated, showcasing other exquisite examples of its cultural heritage.
The Quimbaya Treasure on display at the National Archaeological Museum (3rd century BC to the 5th AD) by Quimbaya Archaeological RegionMuseo de América
Treasure's Safekeeping
The Spanish Civil War (1936) forced the Quimbaya Treasure's relocation to Valencia and then Geneva for safekeeping. It returned to the National Archaeological Museum in 1939, once the war was over.
The Quimbaya Treasure on display at the Museum of the Americas by Quimbaya Archaeological RegionMuseo de América
The Museum of America was founded in 1941 to house the American collections of the National Archaeological Museum. After a renovation in 1994, the original collection is still on display in the room dedicated to the funerary world.
The Quimbaya Treasure on display at the Museum of the Americas (5th century AD to 7th AD) by Quimbaya Archaeological RegionMuseo de América
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Museum of the Americas, an ambitious project was launched to publish a catalog of the Quimbaya Collection, informed by the research of specialists from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain, and Mexico.
The Quimbaya Treasure on display at the Museum of the Americas by Quimbaya Archaeological RegionMuseo de América
In 2018, Colombia submitted a formal request to the government of Spain seeking the return of the collection. Spain's official stance is that the treasure forms part of its own cultural heritage.
Since 2021, the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History and the Museum of the Americas have held a series of academic events. They also curated this exhibition to continue strengthening the ties between the two countries and the research of the Quimbaya Collection.
3D anthropomorphic head-shaped container (3rd century BC to the 5th AD) by Quimbaya IMuseo de América
Explore the Quimbaya collection in interactive 3D
The pieces of the Treasure have been documented using high-precision photogrammetry to create digital twins that are as accurate as possible. You can explore them at here.
Set of anthropomorphic containers (5th century AD to 7th AD) by Quimbaya Archaeological RegionMuseo de América
Learn more about the Quimbaya culture
Curator:
Andrés Gutiérrez Usillos (MAm)
Beatriz Robledo Sanz (MAm)
Fernando Montejo Gaitán (ICANH)
Natalia Sofía Angarita (ICANH)
Photographs:
Museum of America
Joaquín Otero
Tomás Antelo
Gonzalo J. Trancho
Alfonso Hernández Roldán
ICANH (Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History)
Andrés Epifanio Becerra García (ICANH)General Archive of the Nation
Natalia Angarita
Manuel V. Boe – CC
Jacilluch – CC
pxhere.com – CC
Design and layout:
Alfonso Hernández Roldán
Fernando Izquierdo González
Acknowledgements:
Clemencia Plazas Uscátegui
Laura Sánchez (General Archives of the Nation)
Natalia Rodríguez (General Archives of the Nation)
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