Quimbaya Poporo

This poporo (lime container) (c. 500 AD) from the Quimbaya civilization was used in the Andean practice of chewing coca leaves mixed with lime to enhance stimulation and focus. Cast in tumbaga (a gold–copper alloy) by the lost-wax method, its rounded form evokes balance and fertility. Beyond its ritual use, it embodies the aesthetic and spiritual ideals of pre-Columbian Colombia.