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The magnificent golden raft of the muisca and the myth of El Dorado

7/14/2015

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When the Spanish reached South America in the early 16th century, they heard stories about a tribe of natives
high in the Andes mountains in what is now Colombia.

The legend of the El Dorado was born through rumours spreading far beyond the new world 
that there was a vast city of gold somewhere in the mountains.

But it has been later proved that El Dorado wasn't a place but a person.

El Dorado translated into english literally means " The golden one " 
The magnificent golden raft of the muisca, discovered inside a cave near Bogota and is now displayed in the city's museum Museo del Oro.

Only eight inches long, four inches wide and four inches high. 

The golden raft of El Dorado
The golden raft of the muisca seems to capture the moment in a waterborne ceremony, the very embodiment of the El Dorado legend,

The chieftain of the tribe, El Dorado, The Golden One , stands in the middle of the raft adorned with headdress, 
earings and a nose ring.
Muisca golden raft chief
Surrounded by 12 tribe members, all adorned in gold ornaments, carrying musical instruments and jaguar masks

The tribe members on the edge of the raft seem to be the rowers.
el Dorado golden raft
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muisca golden raft
Muisca people valued gold in spiritual rather than monetary terms.

Accounts of the ceremony vary, but they consistently say that the new chieftain was covered with gold dust. 

He would sail to the centre of the lake on a wooden raft laden with with precious treasures. 

He would wash the gold from his body in the lake and gold and precious jewels were thrown into the lake to pacify
the water gods.

To the Muiscas, all lakes were sacred, all water spirits were to be appeased.
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Lake Guatavita
Lake Guatavita, according to popular belief,  was one of the sacred lakes of the Muisca.

Situated now in a state park, less than an hour's drive into the hills north-east of Bogotá, was one where the Muisca made offerings to the Gods.
Muisca golden raft
Muisca raft reproduction

Pre-Columbian jewellery have beautiful 24k gold plated reproductions of the Muisca raft mounted on wooden bases.

These were displayed for purchase, alongside a selection of other products inspired by the "Beyond El Dorado" exhibition at the British Museum London in 2013-2014

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Allergies to jewellery

6/30/2015

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Over the years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people tested positive for nickel allergies and the numbers are growing.

The most common jewellery allergy is to nickel, a natural white metal that is often mixed with other metals to create an alloy. Almost 15% of the population is allergic to nickel.

As the nickel alloy sits against the skin, the natural sweat and oils from the skin oxidize the metal. As a result of the oxidation, a thin layer of nickel salts form on the jewellery. Those salts then penetrate the skin causing itchy, painful reactions.

Chromium and nickel, which often cause allergic reactions, were found in over 90 percent of jewellery items.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/costume-jewelry-found-to-have-high-levels-of-toxins-and-carcinogens-tests-show/
Nickel free pre-columbian jewellery

Pewter was used in the ancient world by the Egyptians and later by the Romans,  and came into extensive use in Europe from the Middle Ages.

Our pre-Columbian jewellery 
is nickel free

The base metal for the castings and gold pieces are made of Pewter, a metal alloy, which means it's a mixture of two or more metals.

Tin is the major component of pewter at more than 90% and the rest is made up of antimony and copper.


Tin is a soft metal and would easily deform even at normal temperatures, which makes it difficult to work with.

Therefore, antimony and copper are added to the tin in order to make it harder and to increase the melting temperature to 250°C (482°F). 

Tin is classified as a precious metal and it has quite a noble history.








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Simple styling and elegant

6/29/2015

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Pre-Columbian traditional designs

Traditional pre-Columbian jewelery

Nickel free metals
plating and base metals

The majority of the Pre-Columbian collections are made up of single strand necklaces with small beaded semi-precious stones and intricate, museum quality gold plated metal castings.

We have a wide choice of gold plated pendants to choose from which can be hung onto any combination of semi-precious and gold linkage necklaces.
Traditional pre-Columbian jewelery
Traditional pre-Columbian jewelery
The necklaces can contain one or more pendants depending on your particular design and look that you have in mind.

Semi-precious stones

Semi-precious stones used to name a few are:

Amethyste
Dark Aventurine
Unakite
Pink Rhodanite
Frosted Crystal
Rose Quartz
Black Frosted Onyx
Picture Jasper
Popp Jasper
Red Jasper
Sodalite



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Traditional pre-Columbian jewelery
6,8,10mm stones and tube stones
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Cascading gold

6/29/2015

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Stunning piece of jewellery

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This piece of Pre-Columbian jewellery just oozes gold.

On any evening social event, heads will be turning.
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For those who have metal allergies, finding jewellery that does not irritate the skin can be a challenge.  All of our pre-Columbian jewellery collections are free of Nickel which is the primary metal that people are allergic to.
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Synonymous with quality and style

6/24/2015

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If you can cope with attention, 
then this is a piece for you

Pre-Columbian jewellery in stunning red and gold

Stunning Pre-Columbian necklace

A beautiful bold piece of Pre-Columbian jewellery that will have heads turning and eyes affixed.

If you can cope with attention, then this is a piece for you

Dressed to impress.....

Pre-Columbian necklace with a unique matt gold finish
The quality of the stones and workmanship and the intricacy of the gold casting is quite impressive.
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Beyond El Dorado at The British Museum

6/23/2015

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Power and gold in ancient Colombia


2013 - 2014 Exhibition

Recognition of quality

We were recognised by the British Museum in London, by reproducing and preserving the realism, appearance, intricacy and cast quality of the original pre-Columbian gold pieces.

This therefore qualified our Pre-Columbian 
pieces to be displayed for purchase, alongside a selection of other products inspired by the exhibition.
We are proud to be able to bring this quality of workmanship for wholesale supply to our customers throughout the world.
Pre-Columbian jewellery The British Museum
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The blue seas of the Caribbean ......

6/20/2015

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We are able to arrange the design, manufacture and supply exclusive pieces of jewellery for individual companies that are looking for new and exciting designs that reflect their company's image and branding.

The pre Columbian collection can also be tailored to your particular taste and design,
using our array of high quality and skilfully cast gold pieces and semi precious stones.
With your imagination, anything is possible.

Pre-Columbian jewellery
connecting with natures colours

This particular piece of Pre-Columbian jewellery brings out the true colours of the Caribbean.
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Bringing together the blue skies, golden sands and turquoise seas.

Pre-Columbian jewellery 18k semi precious Turquoise stones
The pebbles in the sea with the cascading golden links of chain washes over them

Coated in a unique 
24k Gold 
matt finish

Preserving the realism and appearance of the original pre-Columbian gold pieces

Pre-Columbian jewellery turquoise semi precious stones

Semi precious stones Turquoise

Turquoise has been known and valued for thousands of years.

The early mines in Sinai, Egypt, where this stone was being worked, date back to 2000 B.C.


We look forward to bringing you closer with what Colombia has to offer in design, fashion and culture
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A little bit of Colombia

6/19/2015

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We both have a great passion for Colombia as it is where Claudia was born and raised.
We are now settled in London and we make regular visits to the country to see family, 
the manufacturing company and factory in Bogotá.
Colombia is a friendly and beautiful country and we would like to share a few of these things with you.

Valle de Cocora

Walk amongst the worlds tallest palm trees and the national tree of Colombia, the wax palm, growing up to 60 meters.. The Valle de Cocora is a natural cloud forest and has spectacular scenery full of lush greenness.

Botero

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Fernando Botero born in Medellin Colombia, is a well known artist for creating bloated, oversized depictions of people, animals and elements of the natural world.


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Ajiaco

Ajiaco is a delicious popular chicken and potato dish common in the capital of Colombia, Bogotá.

It is eaten with corn and a herb called guascas. Deli !!
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Cartagena

On Colombia's Caribbean coast we have the Old walled 16th century town in Cartagena.

A fairy tale city of romance, legends, cobblestone streets and colourful preserved colonial buildings.

The 6.8 miles of walls built around the old town make this town truly one of mankind's treasures.

We both love it here, especially in the evening.

Museo del Oro

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And of course, finally but not least,  we have the Museo del Oro, Bogotá's most famous museum which houses more than 55,00 pieces of gold and other materials.

These pieces are from the pre-Columbian, pre Hispanic cultures.

Our pre-Columbian jewellery designs are based on the reproduction of some of these magnificent golden pieces.

We hope we have given you a little insight into this wonderful country of beauty and culture.
We will be sharing a lot more of Colombia with you in future blogs.
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Summer in the Columbian rain forest

6/18/2015

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Pre-Columbian indigenous civilizations that inhabited Colombia, were masters of Gold work and through replicating and preserving the realism and appearance of the original gold pieces, stunning pieces of pre Columbian jewellery have been designed and produced. We hope you enjoy this beautify piece of summer jewellery.

Turning heads in a summer  silk dress........

Pre-Columbian jewellery


This stunning piece of jewellery depicts the sheer beauty of the sunny Colombian rain forest.

Lizards and frogs moving through the branches and undergrowth

The glittering sun falling on the green leaves.......
Pre-Columbian jewellery


The true quality and detail of the Gold plated castings

Pre-Columbian jewellery



The golden framed links have been introduced to one side of the necklace only, giving an exciting non symmetrical feel and look


The frog is seen as a symbol of fertility and water
We hope you have enjoyed this particular piece of jewellery and that it has inspired you to look further into our beautify designs in each of the collections.
Pre-Columbian jewellery
The abundance of stones depicting fertility and growth in the rain forest
Pre-Columbian jewellery
Pre-Columbian jewellery
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New insights into the mystical significance

6/17/2015

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With the help of the British Museum and Museo del Oro Bogota in organising the “Beyond El Dorado” exhibition in 2014, it has brought a new insight into the power and gold in ancient Colombia.

Thousands of tourists were able to take in the sheer magnificence of the rich and diverse cultures in Colombia prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th Century, Pre-Columbian.



     Gold was then a material of mystical significance, crafted into beautiful adornments and ritual objects.






Here in London, we hope to build on this new awareness of such richness and beauty by promoting internationally our Pre-Colombian jewellery , showing how diverse and stunning the jewellery can be.

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The frog represents fertiity
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