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Welcome To The Online Museum Of Pre-columbian Gold

South America - Peru
Moche (Mochica)
Gold & Metals Exhibit

Moche Zoomorphic Objects
Moche (Mochica) Zoomorphic Ornamental Objects

Anthropomorphic Moche Gold, copper, and polished stone figure

Moche Headdress Element in the Form of a Fox Head
A.D. 400–800
Copper, silver wash, shell
L. 6 in. (15.2 cm)

The Moche considered the fox a lunar symbol because of its nocturnal habits, and they admired the animal for its cunning and agility. This fox head was probably part of a dramatic headdress: the shell teeth and wire whiskers add realistic detail, the small disks on the ears and chin would have caught the light and tinkled when the headdress moved, and the tongue is designed so that it moves freely.

Indiana University Art Museum

Gold Pendant with Green Stone Eyes

Virginia Museum Of Fine Arts Collection

Male Feline-Shaped Container
Peru, North Coast, Moche style(?) (50-800) cast copper alloy Overall: 7.7cm x 10.2cm

Cleveland Museum of Art

Frog Ornament
Peru, Moche, 1st-9th Century shell, stone, gold Overall: 3.6cm x 10.7cm x 10.6cm

Cleveland Museum of Art

Gold feline figurine with turquoise eyes

Museo Larco

Monkey pendant or bead

Museo Larco

Cast gold crab figurine / ornament

Museo Larco

Finial in the Form of a Bird
A.D. 400–1000
Copper, shell
H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)

Indiana University Art Museum

Moche Utility Objects
Moche (Mochica) utility objects

Copper brush handle

Museo Larco

Copper engraving tool

Copper alloy hammer

Copper alloy chisel

Copper hammer

Copper chisel

Moche silver alloy lime bottle and dipper

Museo Larco

Moche Musical Instruments
Moche (Mochica) Ornamental trumpets and horns

Copper alloy trumpet

Museo Larco

Copper alloy trumpet

Museo Larco

Silver copper alloy castanets

Museo Larco

Silver copper alloy rattle

Museo Larco

Silver copper alloy castanets

Museo Larco

Copper alloy rattle

Museo Larco

click photos

to enlarge

Moche Gold Whistle

Museo Larco

Gold Moche effigy figurine Whistle

Museo Larco

Moche Crowns Helmets & Headdresses
Moche (Mochica) Ornamental headdress bodyware

Moche Silver Helmet

Museo Larco

Moche Silver Helmet

Museo Larco

Moche Copper Helmet

Museo Larco

The Moche people of northern Peru (first–seventh century) were among the first to use copper, often with the addition of arsenic to harden the metal and improve the quality of the cast. Moche metalworkers hammered most of their precious metals—gold and silver—into objects of sheet metal, but many works in copper were cast by the lost-wax technique.

Close-up

Gold Headdress
Moche 1,203 - 1,953 years ago (50 - 800 CE)

Australian Museum

Moche Sea God Headdress 700 A.D.,

Moche gold fan headdress

Gold Headdress
Moche 1,203 - 1,953 years ago (50 - 800 CE)

Gold head piece

Museo Larco

Moche Masks
Moche (Mochica) Ornamental masks

Moche Pre-Columbian Silver Maskette.Pre-Columbian Solid Silver Maskette

Moche Pre-Columbian Silver Mask - northern Peru. - 300-700 A.D. (Moche III to V) - hammered sheet silver (with carved applied shells and inset silver pupils) 3"H x 4-3/4"W,

Copper Funerary Mask
Moche 1,203 - 1,953 years ago (50 – 800 CE)

Museo Larco

Mochica Ornamental mask, 1st–3rd century - Peru; Moche - Silvered copper, shell; H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)

This mask was reportedly found at Loma Negra, an ancient cemetery near Cerro Vicús in the Piura Valley of Peru. Hundreds of tombs were discovered there containing large numbers of burial offerings, including works in gold, silver, and copper. Powerful Moche rulers were interred there in the third century, when their control reached almost as far as Ecuador. The mask, made of silvered copper, has small tabs along the back edges that were once fastened to a larger object, probably a crescent-shaped headdress also made of metal. The relief face was raised by hammering a copper sheet over a special form, and the separately shaped headdress—now fragmentary—and the numerous small round dangles—now mostly missing—were originally attached by means of the tabs and staples. Many centuries of burial and exposure to salts in the soil caused corrosion products to form, covering the once brilliant, thin silver surface. "Half-eyes" and the fanged mouth, with its original shell inlay, depict a Moche deity known as the "decapitator." Full-bodied representations of him on ceramics, textiles, wood, metal, and architectural reliefs show him holding a tumi (ritual cutting knife) in one hand and a severed human head in the other.

Metropolitan Museum

Gold funeral mask

Museo Larco

Moche ceremonial mask

Museo Larco

Gold funerary mask from the pyramid of the moon site

Linden Museum, Stuttgart

Moche Copper alloy ceremonial mask

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

Moche Copper alloy ceremonial mask - Early/Middle Mochica copper mask, Loma Negra, 300 B.C.-A.D. 300, 6 3/4 inches high

Private collection

Early/Middle Mochica copper mask, circa 300 B.C. - A.D. 300, 13 inches wide

Private Collection

Moche Copper alloy ceremonial mask Early/Middle Mochica copper mask, Loma Negra, 300 B.C.-A.D. 300, 6 inches high

Private collection

Moche Backflaps
Moche (Mochica) Ornamental backflap bodyware in the shape of a traditional knife

Moche Gold Backflap

Gold backflaps were an important part of the royal costumes of the Moche elite and were worn suspended from the waist, covering the backside.

The "Decapitator" Motif on the Rattle

The top part of the backflap is a rattle -- the round "bells" had copper pellets which made noise when the wearer moved.

These "bells" encircle a motif which has been dubbed "the Decapitator."

The "Decapitator" holds a sacrificial knife in one hand and a severed head in the other. Sacrifice is a common theme in Moche art. The ritual sacrifice of warriors taken in battle may have been practiced to insure rainfall and agricultural fertility. The figure may relate to the spider that captures its victim in a web and sucks its blood dry.

Moche Gold Backflap/Coxal

Museo Larco

Moche Gold Backflap/Coxal

Moche Copper alloy Backflap/Coxal

Museo Larco

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to enlarge

Moche Ornamental
Moche (Mochica) ornamental objects and appliqués pre-columbian gold designs or motifs

Moche Copper Bells
200 BCE(BC) 200 CE(AD)

Ft. Knox Collection

Copper and gold Hollow pendant

Museo Larco

Gold and copper hollow pendant

Museo Larco

Gold Tupu Pin

Museo Larco

Gold textile Ornamental disc

Museo Larco

Gold Moche broach

Museo Larco

Gold textile ornamental disc

Museo Larco

Gold textile ornamental ring

Museo Larco

Gold textile ornamental disc

Museo Larco

Gold textile ornament

Museo Larco

Silver gold alloy adornment Rattle object

Museo Larco

Moche gold pectoral

Museo Larco

Silver gold alloy adornment object

Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino

pair of Moche appliques, Loma Negra, circa 300 B.C. to A. D. 300, 4 1/2 inches wide each

Private Collection

Moche Pendants
Moche (Mochica) ornamental pendants

Gold Pendant

Museo Larco

Moche Pendant with rattles
Moche, A.D. 50–800 - Perú, North Coast - Gold alloy

Semi-hemispherical rattle of hammered gold, small pellets inside producing the rattling sound. One side is embossed with the representation of a supernatural being. Serpents issue from his shoulders and snakes emanate from his waist. The circular field of the reverse side is divided into 8 sectors whose surfaces are alternately stippled and left plain. The piece is pierced for suspension with 2 double sets of holes.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gold wire clasp pendant

Museo Larco

Frog Pendant
Peru, Moche, 3rd-8th Century Overall: 2.3cm

Cleveland Museum of Art

Copper alloy pendant with remnant of turquoise inset

Museo Larco

Moche Ornamental Beads
Moche (Mochica) ornamental beads

Gold tubular bead

Museo Larco

Gold Monster Bead

Museo Larco

Bead/brad Textile ornament

Museo Larco

Peanut bead with flecks of tuquoise

Gold bead

Gold bead

Tumbaga bead

Gold Monster Bead

Tumbaga Bead

click photos

to enlarge

Moche Nose Ornaments
Moche (Mochica) ornamental nose pieces

gold alloy Nose Ornament with Human Head and Condors Attacking Humans
Peru, North Coast, Moche culture - Early Intermediate Period 100-300 AD Overall: 9.5cm x 16.5cm x 1.6cm

Cleveland Museum of Art

gold alloy and silver Nose Ornament with Serpents and Long-necked Birds
Peru, North Coast, Moche culture - Early Intermediate Period 100-300 AD

Cleveland Museum of Art

gold alloy and silver Nose ornament with intertwined serpents, 2nd–3rd century
Peru; Moche
Gold, silver, shell; W. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection

gold alloy Nose Ornament

Museo Larco

gold alloy Nose Ornament

Museo Larco

Gold nose piece

Museo Larco

Gold nose piece

Museo Larco

gold winged nose piece

Gold nose piece

Gold nose piece

Gold nose piece

Gold & turquoise nose piece

Museo Larco

Gold & turquoise nose piece

Museo Larco

Gold & turquoise nose piece

Museo Larco

Moche Gold & Silver 50/50 Alchemists Nose ring

Museo Larco

Moche Ear Ornaments
Moche (Mochica) ornamental ear pieces

Pair of Earflares, 3rd–7th century
Peru; Moche

Gold ear disc with a trace of cinnabar

Museo Larco

Pair of Earflares, 3rd–7th century
Peru; Moche

NY Met Museum Collection

Gold, Silver, Stone Moche Ear Spools - Northern Peru, 250 and 600 A.D., sheet silver & gilded gold star-fish pattern and carved turquoise. 2-1/2"D x 1-3/4"H

Close-up

click photos

to enlarge

Gold Ear Piece - Mochica

Museo Larco

Close-up

Earflare, 3rd–7th century
Peru; Moche

Pair of earflares with condors, 2nd–3rd century Peru; Moche - Gold, silver, gilt copper, shell; Diam. 3 in. (7.6 cm)

On these technically complex earflares, the front plates are made of sheet gold to which repoussé silver birds are attached by small tabs. The back plates and shafts are of gilded copper and also join in this manner. The ornaments were worn in the distended lobes of the ears, the long tubular shafts counterbalancing the weight of the frontals.

The birds with massive talons and strong, curved beaks adorning these earflares depict Andean condors, identified by the large caruncle (fleshy protuberance) at the base of their beaks and the wattle around their necks. Impressive birds with a wing span of up to ten feet, Andean condors inhabit the high Andes mountains above 9,000 feet. They are primarily carrion eaters, but will occasionally kill for food. Condors and vultures are highly symbolic birds and are a frequent theme in Moche art. They embellish tumis, or knives used in ritual sacrifice, and are often shown pecking at human and animal heads and bodies. Because of their eating habits, they have a natural connection with predation, death, and sacrifice.

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection

Gold circular ear disc (missing the plug)

Museo Larco

Gold ear piece element (separated from remainder of ear piece)

Museo Larco

Gold disc with rattles ear stud

Museo Larco

Gold & copper Disc ear stud

Museo Larco

Gold & turquoise spiral design ear stud

Museo Larco

Gold & copper Disc ear stud

Museo Larco