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Decorated mug

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This magnificent goblet probably had gemstones or shell fragments as inlays on the upper rim. One sees a seated dignitary with an overhanging headgear holding a staff. Underneath is the wave motif. In pre-Hispanic Peru everything revolved around water and fertility. Most of the central Andean region is very dry, sometimes even desert-like. It was therefore of vital importance that the rainy season in the Andes not only started on time, but that it rained sufficiently during these three months, December to March, to make irrigation agriculture possible on the coast. For this purpose they sacrificed to the fertility gods in great public rituals. Only members of the nobility were allowed to drink from such cups, as only they were allowed to wear gold jewellery and to use objects that at least looked like gold. Gold was a symbol for the sun and had no material value.

Data Provider
Linden-Museum Stuttgart Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde Show original at data provider

Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Sicán-Kultur
Object type
Becher
Dimensions
Height: 12 cm
Diameter: 8.6 cm
Material/Technique
Tumbaga (gold-copper alloy)
Driven
Current location
Linden-Museum Stuttgart
Inventory number
119132

Provenance and sources

  • Assignment to a curated holding:
    Sutorius; 2205
  • Production
    when
    9th - 12th century AD.
  • Change of physical control or legal title
    where
    Peru
Provenance
There is no confirmed provenance for this object.

Information about the record

Legal status metadata
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED

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