Ear Ornaments
400–800 CE
Medium
Shell, stone, silver, and copper
Dimensions
Diam.: 6.5 cm (2 9/16 in.)
Classification
shell
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
180921
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of ancient Andean artistry with these exquisite *Ear Ornaments* from Tiwanaku culture, between 400–800 CE. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts the Americas department, these6.5 cm diameter masterfully combine shell—their primary classification—with stone, silver, and copper. Tiwanaku artisans, centered around Lake Titicaca present-day Bolivia, were renowned for their technical prowess, blending organic and metallic materials into symbols of prestige. During Tiwanaku's flourishing era, this highland civilization built a vast empire known for monumental sto...