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Cano Jewelry since 1970

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1890

1st generation

The Cano Family's fascination with Pre-Columbian cultures began in the late 19th Century, when Nemesio Cano discovered important archeological sites filled with gold treasures. His discoveries ignited a passion for collecting indigenous artifacts that was passed on to his sons Jose and Felix and later on to his grandson Guillermo.

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1900

The beginning of a tradition - 2nd Generation

Along with his son, Jose, the Cano family became pioneers in the conservationist movement of Colombian heritage. They dedicated much of their life to the search of pre-Columbian treasures and to the understanding of the historical value in such pieces.

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1929

3rd generation

Guillermo Cano, was born in Caldas, Colombia. He would lead the Cano’s third generation quest for Pre-Columbian heritage.
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1935

The tradition continued

The tradition continued with Guillermo, who was captivated at an early age with the discovery of native burials. Nemesio, José, Félix and Guillermo Cano's interest for indigenous cultures, eventually led them to furnish the Gold Museum with a third of its world known collection.
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1939

Heritage

The Gold Museum collection was founded with the mission to preserve and protect the national archeological heritage of Colombia.

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1968

First jewerly boutique

Guillermo Cano and his wife Dory de Cano opened their first Jewelry boutique in Bogota, Colombia to share for the first time pre-Columbian reproductions casted using the same lost-wax process used by these civilizations.
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1970

Private museum

Guillermo Cano inaugurates a private museum founded to contribute to the forging of Colombia’s national identity with over 4,000 ceramic pieces and over 50,000 pre-Columbian carved stones collected by the Cano family.
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1973

From the land of El dorado

The exhibition ‘From the land of El Dorado’ opens at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, Explorers Hall, at Washington D.C., displaying Cano collection of pre-Columbian artifacts.

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1975

the Metropolitan Museum

The Cano family’s mission has been to make Colombians value their national identity, value their heritage, and to promote the pre-Columbian craft and culture around the world. Cano was honored to be included in the Metropolitan Museum Shop in New York.

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1979

National geographic

National Geographic featured Cano in its GOLD, THE ETERNAL TREASURE naming him the goldsmith who duplicates masterworks from the past thanks to his Lost-wax technique mastery.
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1980

california academy of sciences

Exhibit of “Cano replicates of the Tairona and Muisca Peoples Artifacts” at the California Academy of Sciences.

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1981

the 20 most important esmeralds

Los Angeles Museum of Natural History displays the Cano collection amongst a $45 Million collection the 20 most important emeralds of the 1980’s and astonishing pre-Columbian gold artifacts.

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1987

4th generation Cano

Guillermo Cano was named Honorary Gold Member of the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY. Cano exhibited the family’s collection in the National Geographic New York Headquarters. o Luis Alberto Cano, the fourth generation Cano, continues the family tradition and opens his first boutique in Medellin, Colombia.

Luis Alberto is a goldsmith graduated from the prestigious GoldSchmiedeschule in Pforzheim, Germany.

 

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1993

The gold museum Collection

Since the 1900’s the Cano family has contributed to the Gold Museum Collection bringing over 10,000 pre-Columbian gold pieces sold to El Banco de la República.
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1997

Internacional expansion

Cano Jewelry continues to export Colombia's Heritage to Italy, France, Spain, USA, Mexico and Chile.
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1999

State visits

A Cano gift highlights Colombian heritage and our pre-Columbian cultures ancestral work. That is why Cano has always been a traditional choice by presidents for guests of honor or state visits.

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2001

Jewelry authorized by Banco de la Republica

Cano became the exclusive goldsmith authorized to replicate the GOLD MUSEUM COLLECTION.
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2014

Beyond el dorado: power and gold in ancient colombia

Cano was commissioned by the British Museum to do the replicas of the master pieces in their “Beyond El Dorado: power and gold in ancient Colombia” exhibition in London.

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2016

5th Generation Cano

Eduardo Cano, now the 5 th generation of the Cano family continues with the tradition and leads the international expansion.
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2016

The Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos chose Cano jewelry as the gift for Queen Elizabeth.
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2018

Creative director

Colombian designer, Paula Mendoza is named creative director of the brand. (2018-2019)

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Creative director

Paula Mendoza

Paula Mendoza is a Colombian designer, the founder and creator of New York based brand Paula Mendoza Jewelry. Her recognizable circular designs are not only a trend in her jewelry but also in the way she has run her business for more than 16 years. In terms of aesthetics, Paula utilizes the circle as a prominent component in each of her collections. For her the circle is representative of the balance between cause and effect as well as the shape of femininity. From the beginning, Paula has worked with Colombian artisans to bring her designs to life. It is these artisans that she first started working with that continue to be part of the Paula Mendoza circle – creating an intimate family whose handcrafted work, not only established this brand but has created an ethos of social responsibility for the country of Colombia and added to its richness.

Despite her inherent creative drive to design, Paula studied social communications. Realizing this was not the platform she wanted to utilize to express herself, she opens her first Atelier in Bogota, Colombia in 2003. A year later she moves to Washington, DC and establishes private clients where her circular designs quickly gained popularity. With a desire to take her designs to new heights, she studies Jewelry as Sculpture at the Corcoran Art Institute. Because of this course, Paula’s designs become ergonomic and form functioning to the body. Mixing the unparalleled craftsmanship of the Colombian artisans and her innovative approach to design won the attention of retailers and the media. Upon establishing New York as her headquarters six years ago, her brand has made it to the most reputable retailers worldwide such as Net-A-Porter, Saks, Harvey Nichols and Bergdorf Goodman. The jewelry’s presence and popularity have increased through celebrities and bloggers using her eye-catching pieces. Such popularity has lead the brand to be featured in countless publications like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, InStyle, W Magazine, as well as landing a cover on Allure this year, establishing the jewelry’s recognition.

From the beginning, Paula consciously decided to have her country not only as source of inspiration but as the source of production. Every material found in her pieces are locally sourced in as well as conflict free. This ranges from the gold that is used to plate the pieces to the raw emeralds that symbolize Colombia’s richness. Paula’s jewelry is recognized as not only physically sustainable but economically sustainable since the brand provides jobs to over 25 artisan families.

It is because of this economic sustainability that Paula has been recognized by her country’s president Juan Manuel Santos as one of the 100 Top Colombians changing the face of the country. This award acknowledges Paula’s sustainable fashion and the philanthropic energy that encompasses the essence of her and her brand. The DNA of this brand not only is a symbol for social responsibility but it is Paula’s outlet to demonstrate that kindness and success are not mutually exclusive. For the brand has proven that an entrepreneurial spirit and respect for others can still create art with meaning. Because of all that embodies the brand, Paula was just recently named Creative Director of Cano Jewelry – the oldest most respected jewelry brand of Colombia with more than 100 years of tradition.

Workshop

Molds
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Workshop

  1. 01

    Molds

    Each piece has a unique rubber mold which is hand made and taken from the original pieces or designs.
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  2. 02

    Wax Inyection

    Once the mold has been selected it is injected with hot wax and examined by the artisan.
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  3. 03

    Wax Polish

    The artisan later manually adds and removes wax from the piece to achieve fidelity to the original design.
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  4. 04

    Wax Tree

    Prior to casting all wax pieces are placed on a wax tree.
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    Plaster Covering

    Each wax tree is introduced into a cylinder which is later cover in plaster, after it has built a solid mold it is heated causing the wax to melt and drain out of the cylinder support, thus the "lost-wax" name.
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  6. 06

    Casting

    The melted Brass is poured-in to penetrate every part of the cavity and it is spun on a centrifuge in order to make sure the metal covers all space.

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    Plaster Cleaning

    After casting, the the cooled metal piece is broken from the plaster mold and cleaned to be polished.
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    Vibrator Polishing

    The pieces are placed inside a polishing vibrator in a process of smoothing out their surface.
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    Polishing

    The pieces are polished to remove all imperfections and give smooth finishes to the piece.
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    Soldering

    The pieces are soldered to add different systems and given their finished touch of craftsmanship.
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    Gold Plating

    A 24k gold plating is given to each piece under the Cano mastered techniques giving each a gold-matte finish to replicate the intense gold color of the original piece.
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    Washing

    The final pieces is washed and dried for a final stage of assembly and packaging to be sent to retail stores.
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    Cano jewel

    Many hours of hand labour in producing each piece and a new Cano piece is born carrying all its historical value and mastered craftsmanship.

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