Copper Disk Ornament

Art Historical Context

This delicate **Copper Disk Ornament**, from the 3rd century to the 2nd CE, hails from the ancient Vicús culture (or a closely related group) on Peru's northern coast. just 3-5/16 inches (8.4 cm) in diameter, was crafted from copper and enhanced with gilding—a technique that applied a thin layer of gold to create a shimmering, luxurious surface. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas, entered the collection through the 1986 bequest of Jane Costello Goldberg from her husband Arnold I. Goldberg's esteemed holdings. The Vicús people were renowned pre-Columbian metalworkers, producing intricate ornaments like this disk, likely worn as earrings, pectorals, or ceremonial adornments. Its animal motifs—evident from thematic tags—reflect Andean traditions where creatures symbolized fertility, protection, or supernatural forces, blending everyday life with cosmology. Hammering thin copper sheets and gilding them demonstrated advanced technical prowess, rivaling later Inca metallurgy and underscoring early innovations in the Americas. As a small yet striking artifact, this piece illuminates the Vicús' vibrant material culture during a formative era of regional trade and ritual artistry, offering visitors a tangible link to Peru's ancient past.