Incan Burial Doll?

Alwaysjanesmom · Jul 3, 2014

These two metal figures have been in my family for years. I believe they came from Peru. The smaller one is 1" long and the other is 1&3/4". I cannot tell the color. I rubbed the dirt off the shiny one, may be gold colored.

Ideas?

Thanks so much!

tamrock · Jul 3, 2014

Welcome to Treasure-net,
What type of metal alloy they are made with would maybe pin down the time frame they could have been made I'm thinking?. Maybe start with your local jeweler and see what metal he or she thinks it is? From what I can tell by the photo they appear to be a cast copper, nickel, zinc alloy and don't look gold to me. This alloy is widely used for jewelry items in S. America and commonly called "alpacca" Nickel silver - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia My first thought is they are not so old and maybe just small cast novelty items from maybe Peru. :dontknow:

bigfoot1 · Jul 3, 2014

from what I have read the real deal was made of gold.they still sell castings depicting the capacocha figures.
here is a real one...

Miniature figurines wrought in hammered gold were handed over as offerings to accompany human sacrifices during the ritual of capacocha, meaning royal sin or obligation

Alwaysjanesmom · Jul 3, 2014

I want to thank you both for your time. I will find out what the metal is. Not gold, that is right. Interesting puzzle no matter. I always thought they were weights.

Again, thank you.