The Cano Family’s fascination with Pre-Columbian cultures began in the late 19th Century, when Nemesio Cano discovered important archaeological sites filled with gold treasures. His discoveries ignited a passion for collecting indigenous artifacts that was passed on to his sons Jose and Feliz and later on to his grandson Guillermo.
About Us
Continuing a legacy
Cano Jewelry is a well-known Colombian jewelry house known for its unique interpretations of pre-Columbian art discovered by the Cano family in the late nineteenth century.
The family's fascination with pre-Columbian cultures began at the end of the 19th century, when the stone paver Nemesio Cano discovered important archaeological sites with pre-Columbian gold treasures. His discoveries ignited a passion for collecting indigenous artifacts that was passed through generations to his children José, Félix and then to his grandson Guillermo.
During their time searching for these treasures, the first three generations of Cano guaqueros brought over more than 10,000 gold pieces to the Banco de la Republica, Gold Museum in Bogotá. This renowned collection has been exhibited at the Museum of Natural History in New York, the National Geographic, the British Museum and other world-class museums. Throughout five generations of exploration, study and artistic and technical efforts, the Cano family has redesigned these pieces of traditional pre-hispanic art into modern and timeless jewelry. In 1968, Nemesio's grandson, Guillermo Cano, began to reproduce original designs of private collections using the same ancient technique of the lost-wax, casting, hammering, bas-reliefs and high relief.
Our history
1890
1900
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.
1929
Guillermo Cano, was born in Caldas, Colombia. He would lead the Cano’s third generation quest for Pre-columbian heritage.
1935
The tradition continued with Guillermo, who was captivated at an early age with the discovery of native burials. Nemesio, Jose, Felix and Guillermo Cano’s interest for indigenous cultures, eventually led them to furnish the Gold Museum with a third of its world known collection.
1939
The gold Museum collection was founded with the mission to preserve and protect the national archeological heritage of Colombia.
1968
Guillermo 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.
1970
Guillermo Cano inaugurates a private museum founded to contribute to the forging of Colombia’s identity with over 4,000 ceramic pieces and over 50,000 pre-Columbian carved stones collected by the Cano Family.
1973
The exhibition ‘From the land of El Dorado’ opens at the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, Explorers Hall, at Washington D.C., displaying the Cano collection of pre-Columbian artifacts.
1975
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.
1979
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.
1980
Exhibit of “Cano replicates of the Tairona and Muisca Peoples Artifacts” at the California Academy of Sciences
1981
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.
1987
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.
1987
Luis Alberto Cano, the fourth generation of the family, continues the tradition and opens his first boutique in Medellin, Colombia. Luis Alberto is a goldsmith graduate from the prestigious Goldschmiedeschule in Pforzheim, Germany.
1993
Since 1900, the Cano family has contributed to the Gold Museum Collection, with more than 10,000 pieces of pre-Columbian gold to the Bank of the Republic.
1997
Cano continues to export Colombia's Heritage to Italy, France, Spain, the United States, Mexico and Chile.
1999
Cano has always been a traditional choice of presidents for guests of honor or state visits. A Cano gift highlights Colombian heritage, our pre-Columbian cultures and their ancestral work.
2001
Cano became the exclusive jewelry store authorized to reproduce the GOLD MUSEUM COLLECTION.
2014
Cano was commissioned by the British Museum to make replicas of the master pieces in its “Beyond El Dorado: power and gold in ancient Colombia.”
2016
EDUARDO CANO, now the 5th Generation of the family, continues the tradition and leads the international expansion.
2016
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos chose pieces from Cano jewelry as a gift for Queen Isabel.
2018
Paula Mendoza is appointed as the creative director of the brand (2018-2019)
2023
Two new stores were inaugurated: the Quimbaya Gold Museum, located in Armenia, Quindío, and the Zenú Museum in Cartagena.
Our production process
The creation of a handmade jewel is a process full of passion and dedication. It starts with the careful selection of materials.
Sustainability
Reproduction permission
The only company to make reproductions of the Gold Museum collection.
Local artisans
Our jewelry is handmade by artisans from all over Colombia.
Green gold
We call green gold to the gold extracted in an artisanal way, minimizing the impact on the land.
