Pectoral
1000–1470
Medium
Gold alloy
Dimensions
34.2 × 21.6 cm (13 1/2 × 8 1/2 in.)
Classification
metal
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
52283
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
A leader from the kingdom of Chimor might have worn this golden collar, or pectoral, directly on their chest, or it may have been attached to a larger fabric garment that has since deteriorated. Each plaque was hammered with the motif of a seabird in relief, evoking the coastal setting of Chimor in modern-day Peru. Chimú sovereigns, who ruled the kingdom of Chimor from their capital at Chan Chan, amassed staggering amounts of wealth, especially in precious metals. Here, the dangling spangles dem...
About the Artist
Chimú
The Chimú, a preeminent pre-Columbian culture of Peru's northern coast, flourished from approximately 900 to 1470 CE as the Kingdom of Chimor, emerging in the wake of the Moche civilization's decline and incorporating influences from the Sican, Wari, and Cajamarca cultures. Centered in the vast adobe metropolis of Chan Chan—the largest city in the Americas before the Inca, housing up to 60,000 peo...