Miniature Drum

Chimú or Chancay artist(s)

13th–15th century

Miniature Drum by Chimú or Chancay artist(s)

Medium

Silver (hammered)

Dimensions

H. 5 × W. 3 1/4 × D. 2 1/8 in. (12.7 × 8.3 × 5.5 cm)

Classification

Metal-Ornaments

Culture

Chimú or Chancay

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Bequest of Jane Costello Goldberg, from the Collection of Arnold I. Goldberg, 1986

Accession Number

1987.394.660

Art Historical Context

This exquisite **Miniature Drum**, crafted by Chimú or Chancay artist) between the 13th and 15th centuries, exemplifies the masterful metalworking of pre-Columb Andean cultures on Peru's coast. Belonging to either the Chimú, renowned for their expansive empire and intricate gold and silverwork, or the Chancay known for vibrant ceramics and textiles, this small silver object (just 5 inches tall) served likely as a ceremonial ornament rather than a functional instrument. Its classification as a metal ornament suggests it may have adorned rituals, elite attire, or shrines, reflecting the societie...

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