Cleveland Museum of Art

Head Beaker

Date

900–1100

Medium

gold, hammered

Culture

Central Andes (Peru), Lambayeque (Sicán) people, 10th century-12th century

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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. This drinking vessel holds close to 62 oz of fluid—almost half a gallon!

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