Miniature Bowl
1200–1450
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
5.4 × 12.7 cm (2 1/8 × 5 in.)
Classification
bowl
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
126469
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Miniature Bowl**, crafted by Inca artisans between 1200 and 1450, exemplifies the mastery of pre-Columbian goldsmithing in the Andes. Measuring just 5.4 × 12.7 cm (2 1/8 × 5 in.), its petite scale belies its grandeur, fashioned entirely from shimmering gold—a metal revered by the Inca as the "sweat of the sun symbolizing divine power and imperial prestige. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts the Americas department, this likely served ceremonial purposes, perhaps for offerings or elite rituals during the formative years of Inca expansion. Inca metalwork, part of the ...
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...