Nose Ornament
Unknown Artist
1st–3rd century
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H. 3 3/8 x W. 5 x D. 5/8 in. (8.6 x 12.7 x 1.6 cm) Weight: 0.0037lb. (0.0017kg)
Classification
Metalwork-Ornaments
Culture
Moche
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1996
Accession Number
1996.372.1
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Nose Ornament, crafted by an unknown Moche artist between the 1st and 3rd centuries, exemplifies the mastery of pre-Columbian metalwork from ancient Peru. Hailing from the Moche culture—a sophisticated society in Peru's northern coastal region known for its monumental pyramids, intricate ceramics, and elite artistry—this delicate gold piece measures just 3⅜ inches high and weighs a mere 0.0037 pounds. Its classification as metalwork-ornament highlights the Moche's reverence for personal adornments that signified social status and spiritual power. Gold held profound symbolic val...