Ornamental Disk

Unknown

12th–15th century · Gold · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

During the Sican (Lambayeque) and subsequent Chimu era on Peru's northern coast, the use of precious metals in ostentatious ornaments for the ruling elite grew dramatically, due perhaps to the greater availablility of such materials or to their increased cultural importance. This disk is decorated around the rim with embossed running figures created by hammering the sheet over a carved mold. It may have been a textile ornament.

Artist

Unknown

Date

12th–15th century

Medium

Gold

Culture

Chimú

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979