Tunjos

A tunjo is a small anthropomorh or zoomorph figurine made of a gold-silver-copper alloy.

Manufacturing process

Wax Casting

1. Make a replica design with beeswax
2. Make a two piece mold of the model with clay
3. Heat beeswax until it becomes pliable, then press it into the mould to create a hollow wax copy
   • Ensure the wax is evenly distributed and covers the inner surface of the mould
   • The mould can be reused to make multiples
4. Use sculpting tools to refine the details of the wax copy and remove any imperfections
   • Attach any additional wax pieces as needed
5. Attach small wax rods or tubes to the wax copy to be channels for the molten metal to flow into during casting
6. Dip the wax copy into a slurry of fine clay to create a ceramic shell around the wax
7. Heat the ceramic shell to harden it and melt away the wax; leaving a cavity in the shell in the shape of the original
8. Pour the molten metal into the ceramic cavity
   • Allow the metal to cool and solidify, then carefully break away the shell
9. Use metalworking tools to refine the surface and remove any casting imperfections

Significance

Offerings

Tunjos elaborate on important people, deities and animals. They are meant to be disposable, but serve different roles in their lifetime:

1. ornament graves, temples and shrines
2. offer pieces, to communicate with the gods and ask for favours, by burying in lakes, caves, rivers and valleys

Alternate Name
Chunso

Item type

Art

Current Location

Kamachina

Manufacturer

Third Quadrant

Related ethnicities

• Honey People

Owning Organization

Third Quadrant

Rarity

Uncommon

Raw materials & Components

Gold

Silver

Copper

Lead

Iron

Stones

Tools

Shale Matrices

Obsidian Mounds