Pair of Ear Flare Frontals
Unknown Artist
Chimú style (900–1470)
Medium
hammered gold alloy
Dimensions
w. 8.5 cm · diam. 8.6 cm
Classification
Jewelry
Department
Art of the Americas
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
James Albert Ford Memorial Fund
Accession Number
1938.429
About this artwork
These gold discs, each with the image of a richly dressed Chimú lord, originally were attached to the fronts of ear ornaments equipped with long, thick shafts that passed through the ear lobes. Such ornaments were important markers of wealth and elite status.