Drinking Cup (Kero) with an Abstracted Masked Figure

Art Historical Context

This elegant drinking cup, known as a kero, was crafted by artisans of the Tiwanaku culture in the Andean highlands between 600 and 1000 CE. this period, Tiwanaku emerged as a powerful center of political and religious influence near Lake Titicaca, and such vessels played an important role in ceremonial life. Keros were typically used to serve chicha, a fermented corn beverage, during rituals that reinforced social bonds and spiritual connections. The cup’s compact form and painted decoration reflect the technical skill of Tiwanaku potters, who shaped earthenware by hand and applied mineral p...