Profile Warrior Ornament
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Silvered copper, shell
Dimensions
H. 9 7/16 in. (24 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Moche
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Jane Costello Goldberg, from the Collection of Arnold I. Goldberg, 1986
Accession Number
1987.394.74
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking *Profile Warrior Ornament* the Moche culture of ancient Peru, dating to the 6th–7th, exemplifies the society's mastery of metalworking. Crafted from silvered copper with shell inlays, the 9 7/16-inch (24 cm) piece likely served as an ear ornament or elite adornment, its gleaming surface evoking prestige and power. The profile view captures a fierce warrior, complete with weapons, reflecting the Moche's fascination with martial themes—common in their art, which often glorified combatants and rulers. The Moche, who thrived on Peru's northern coast from around 100–700 CE, produced ...