Profile Face
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Silvered copper, shell, stone
Dimensions
H. 7 1/4 x W. 7 1/16 x D. 1 1/4 in. (18.5 x 17.9 x 3.2 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Moche
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Accession Number
1979.206.1260
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Profile Face* ornament, crafted by an unknown Moche artist between the 6th and 7th centuries,ails from the ancient Moche culture of Peru's northern coast. Measuring just 7¼ inches high, it's a masterful example of pre-Columbian metalwork, fashioned from silvered copper inlaid with shell and stone The profile view captures a dignified human face with striking realism—prominent nose, full lips, and expressive eyes reflects the Moche's unparalleled skill in portraiture, often seen in their ceramics and jewelry. The Moche, flourishing from around 100 to 700 CE, were renowned for t...