Cleveland Museum of Art

Beaker with Frontal Figures

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

This beaker was created by an artist of the Lambayeque culture of Peru's north coast. It features a figure with comma-shaped eyes holding staffs, symbols of authority. If such beakers were used in life—that is, not created exclusively for the lavish tombs in which they have been found in quantities—they may have figured in feasting events that were central to late pre-Hispanic political, social, and religious life. Gold beakers like this one were indicators of high status.

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