Scorpion
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Gilded copper
Dimensions
Length 4-1/8 in. (10.5 cm)
Classification
Metal-Ornaments
Culture
Moche
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Jane Costello Goldberg, from the Collection of Arnold I. Goldberg, 1981
Accession Number
1981.459.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate *Scorpion*, a masterful copper ornament from the Moche culture of ancient Peru crafted between the 6th and 7th centuries. Measuring just 4-1/8 inches (10.5 cm) in length, this delicate metalwork captures the fierce form of a scorpion with remarkable precision, its segmented body and arched tail gleaming from the application of gold over copper. As a piece from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas, exemplifies the Moche's exceptional skill in jewelry and adornments. The Moche, flourishing on Peru's northern coast from around 100–...