THE POPORO QUIMBAYA
The Poporo is a handmade piece that represents one of the best work of Goldsmithing of one of the great pre-Hispanic cultures. But it is actually one of many pieces of jewelry with the same name, belonging to a period which archaeologists call "quimbaya classic". The Poporo was chosen as symbol to represent Colombia, in the XV Bolivarian Games held in Colombia in May 2005. But it is not the first time the Poporo is used to represent Colombia or part of it. It's in the coat of arms of the town of Dos Quebradas; It was also the figure chosen for the obverse of the coin 20, Aluminum and Bronze, Pesos 1980, and Special Edition Gold Coin 1500 Pesos, minted to celebrate 50 years of the Bank of the Republic of Colombia.
And the most photographed piece of all pre-hispanic goldsmith, was also the issue that I took as inspiration to design the National costume to Claudia Vasquez, Miss Colombia 1996-97 for the Miss Universe Pageant 1997, held in Miami, FL.
With this costume wanted say to the world that Colombia is the country of El Dorado and that the Poporo is one of their highest expressions.
El Dorado (Spanish for "the golden one") was a term used by Europeans to describe a tribal chief of the Muisca native people of Colombia, South America, who as an initiation rite, covered himself with gold dust and dived into Lake Guatavita. Imagined as a place, El Dorado went from a city to a kingdom and an empire of this legendary golden king.
I still remember like it was yesterday, I still remember like it was yesterday, when presenting it to the public and the media the Intercontinental hotel in Medellin, Colombia that several people, between them two very well-known Colombian journalists Amparo Pelaez and Amparo Perez: "John this design is like to win the prize", and just a month later, on May 13, 1997, the Poporo was selected, among more of 75 designs, as the best national costume at the Miss Universe pageant, 1997.
- The fantastic outfit that Claudia Elena Vasquez will look at the Miss Universe pageant from Miami, outlined Fama magazine, on May 1, 1987.
The headdress was the Poporo Quimbaya made in plastic resin and topped with pheasant feathers, the body was made it in gold lame fabric and the loincloth elaborate it in metal accounts, clay, brooches and bracelets on gold bath.
And because of this triumph, our beautiful Miss Colombia 1996-97 the following day on May 14,1997 was out on the front page of the newspaper Miami Herald and in many others international newspapers and magazines.
- BEST NATIONAL COSTUME: Miss colombia, Claudia Elena Vasquez, wins trophy and $1,000 Tusday. Colombian radio has broadcast news about every rehearsal and preliminary contest in the pageant, outlined the Miami Herald on May 14, 1997.
! AND COLOMBIA ALSO WON...
... NATIONAL COSTUME.
- "I struggled to highlight the figure and for it to be comfortable for walking and dancing on stage" said the designer John Miranda.
- When she won the prize for best costume with their Poporo Quimbaya, Claudia was radiant; It is not changed by any, as the win was not only of her, but also of John Miranda, national designer, who put on high the name of our country", outlined Cromos magazine on May 19, 1997.
- The Miami Herald.
- Cromos Magazine.
- Fama Magazine.
- wikipedia.
