This ornately crafted shell is an exceptionally-fine example of goldwork; a testimony to the artistry and metallurgical advancements the Calima cultures experienced. Native to the region of Valle del Cauca in modern-day Colombia, the Calima people's artistic reputation lies predominantly on their sculpting of gold, which once melted was believed to be charged with symbolic and religious value. Surprisingly, to the Calima, gold in its raw form was considered no more valuable than clay, until it served a functional or aesthetic purpose.

Having said this, the shell was shaped by initially flattening gold into a sheet and then gently hammering the sheet around a shell which effectively was used as a mould. The artist could add details by working the sheet with a bone or metal tool.

The Calima culture refers explicitly to the peoples that inhabited the region of Valle del Cauca in modern-day Colombia, from the year 1600 BCE to 600 CE. It encompasses a cluster of cultures that occupied the area during different periods, however due to the similarities in the archaeological remains have been classified as a single culture.

Experts have divided the Calima historical narrative into three periods: Llama, Yotoco and Sonso. The Llama period extends from the year 1600 BCE to 200 CE. The Yotoco period began around 1110 BCE through 65 CE. And finally, the last period, known as Sonso, began in 710 BCE and ended in 45 CE.