Breastplate
Inca
1200–1400
Medium
Gold and copper alloy (tumbaga)
Classification
metal
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
91865
About the Artist
Inca
Inca artists, operating anonymously within the vast Inca Empire from approximately 1425 to 1532 CE, were masterful creators whose works symbolized imperial power and unity across the Andes. Thriving in the heart of Cuzco, the empire's capital, these skilled artisans—men and women alike—produced textiles, ceramics, and metalwork that served both practical and ceremonial purposes. Gifted craftspeopl...