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Head Beaker
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Metalworking flourished among the Lambayeque people of Peru’s north coast. Artists made large objects, including containers, in unprecedented numbers; one Lambayeque tomb contained nearly 200 gold or silver beakers. The head on this beaker has been interpreted as the visage of either the culture’s principal deity—its divinity signaled by its feline-like fangs—or the deified founder of the Lambayeque ruling dynasty. It is not known why the head is upright only when the beaker rests on its rim.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, 10th century-12th century |
|---|---|
| Date | 900–1100 |
| Culture / Origin | Central Andes (Peru), Lambayeque (Sicán) people, 10th century-12th century |
| Medium | gold, hammered |
| Dimensions | Overall: 23.5 x 19.8 cm (9 1/4 x 7 13/16 in.) |
| Department | Art of the Americas |
| Type | Metalwork |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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