Hammered Copper Band
Unknown Artist
1450–1530 CE
Medium
Copper (hammered)
Dimensions
Diameter 3-3/16 in. (8.1 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Peruvian
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cummings, 1964
Accession Number
64.228.581
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Hammered Copper Band**, by an unknown Peruvian artist between 1450 and 1530 CE, exemplifies the metalworking traditions of the late pre-Columbian Andes. Measuring just 3-3/16 inches (8.1 cm) in diameter, lightweight ornament—likely worn as a bracelet or armband—hails from a period overlapping the rise and expansion of the Inca Empire when Peru's diverse cultures produced exquisite personal adornments symbolizing status, identity, and spiritual connections. The band's medium, pure copper meticulously hammered into shape, highlights the technical prowess of Andean artisans. With...