Costume Ornament
Unknown Artist
11th–12th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
L. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Peru; central coast (?)
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cummings, 1964
Accession Number
64.228.297
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate silver costume ornament, measuring 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) in length, hails from Peru's central coast around the 11th–12th century. Crafted by an unknown artist during the late Intermediate Period, it exemplifies the sophisticated metalworking traditions of pre-Columbian Andean cultures, possibly linked to groups like the Chancay or Ichma. Silver, prized for its luster and malleability, was hammered and likely soldered into intricate forms, highlighting the region's mastery of metallurgy long before European contact. The ornament's fish motif, a recurring symbol in Andean art, evo...