Beaker Item Number: Sf650 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A tall metal beaker with a slightly flaring, thickened rim and a humanoid face modelled on the side. The nose and chin jut out sharply. Low relief designs of repousse circles and geometric shapes cover the remainder of the surface.
History Of Use
Effigy beakers are found from Lambayeque on the far north coast to Ica on the south coast (Lechtman), although Chimu craftsmen traditionally have been credited with making them. Most of the beakers appear to be silver but metallographic tests have shown many are made of a silver-copper alloy.
Narrative
Chimu/Inca style, Late Intermediate Period; 1300-1532 C.E.
Iconographic Meaning
The face on this beaker is a standard one. Although the meaning is not known, a very similar version of this face occurs on hundreds of beakers.
Item History
What
- Name
- Beaker
- Identification Number
- Sf650
- Type of Item
- beaker
- Material
- copper metal and silver metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- hammered and annealed
- Overall
- height 23.0 cm, width 7.5 cm, depth 11.5 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- between 1300 and 1532
- Collection Date
- between 1949 and 1966
- Ownership Date
- before May 4, 1981
- Acquisition Date
- on May 4, 1981
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 0711/0152