Analytical approach of colour and elemental composition in gold metallic objects from the Quimbaya culture: A case study in Antioquia, Colombia

•A colourimetry study was performed on gold pieces of the Quimbaya culture.•Roughness and shape of the pieces affects the reflectance spectra and the coloration.•The shape of reflectance spectra is dominated by the gold presence in all pieces.•The composition of these pieces plays an important role in their colors and hues.•Surface characteristics of the samples modify the colourimetric parameters L * and C *.