Inca and Pre-Inca Cultures
Lambayeque or Sican Vessel
AD 900-1470
Norton Collection
Chimu Ceramic Bottle
AD 900-1470
Legge Collection
Chimu Figural Vessel
AD 1100-1400
This piece was formed in a mold.
Legge Collection
Inca Infant Poncho
AD 1300-1500
This textile woven from camelid fibers-llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos-is from the South Coast of Peru.
Spoon Tupu or Shawl Pin
A tupu is a traditional pin used to hold up a dress or pin mantles or cloaks about the shoulders. After contact, lupus were often made by modifying silver spoons and allowed Andean women to display wealth and hence status.
Legge Collection
Inca or Pre-Inca Textile Shuttle
Wood preservation in archeological sites is not common, but objects like this shuttle were often preserved in coastal desert regions of Peru.
Inca Pacca or Drinking Vessel
AD 1430-1532
William P. Palmer III Collection
Inca Cuzco Bottle or Aribalo
15th Century
This vessel form was used to store chicha or corn beer. Aribalos ranged widely in size and this smaller version was likely intended for personal use.
Jennings collection
Lambayeque or Sican Squash Figural Vessel
AD 900-1470
Baumann-Nelson Collection
Lambayeque or Sican Copper Tumi
AD 900-1470
Tumis, like this example, were used as ceremonial knives. This version is also a rattle.
Legge Collection
Chimu Copper Pectoral
AD 900-1470
Rothchild Collection
Chimu Staff
AD 1250-1425
Natural tree branches are wrapped with bands of alpaca or llama wool and the ends are topped with tropical bird feathers.
Marks Collection