Lambayeque Silver Beakers: Further Considerations

Figures & data

Figure 1. Two Lambayeque silver beakers in the collection of the Denver Art Museum (left, 1969.303; right, 1969.302). Photograph courtesy Denver Art Museum.

Figure 2. Unknown Artist, Double-walled Silver Beaker with Mythological Scene (The Water Channel Beaker or Denver 1). Hammered silver, 6 × 5.5 × 4.5 in. (H. 15.5 cm). Denver Art Museum: Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer; 1969.302). Photograph courtesy Denver Art Museum.

Figure 3. Beaker now in the Museo de Oro, Lima (M-1947), prior to restoration (detail). The American Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology, Junius Bird Archive. Courtesy of the Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History.

Figure 4. Museo de Oro beaker, after restoration. H. 16.7 cm. The American Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology, Junius Bird Archive. Courtesy of the Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History.

Figure 5. Unknown Artist, Silver Beaker with Ceremonies and Scorpion Deity (The Medallion Beaker or Denver 2). Hammered silver. 7 × 7.5 × 5 in. (H. 16.8 cm). Denver Art Museum: Gift of the Collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 1969.303. Photograph courtesy Denver Art Museum.

Figure 6. X-ray image of the Water Channel Beaker (Denver 1; 1969.302). Image prepared by Caitlin Mahony, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Figure 7. Rollout drawing of the Water Channel Beaker. Drawing prepared by Hélène Bernier.

Figure 8. Base of the Water Channel Beaker. Photograph courtesy Denver Art Museum.

Figure 9. Photograph of the Water Channel Beaker prior to restoration. The American Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology, Junius Bird Archive. Courtesy of the Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History.

Figure 10. Rollout drawing of the Water Channel Beaker showing possible alignment of cylinder with the upper register (“cuff”). Original drawing prepared by Hélène Bernier; revised by Wilson Santiago and Sara Chen.

Figure 11. X-ray image of the Medallion Beaker (Denver 2). Image prepared by Caitlin Mahony, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Figure 12. Detail of the Medallion Beaker's spout.

Figure 13. Interior of the Medallion Beaker (base). Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Figure 14. Interior imagery of the Medallion Beaker. Drawing by Sara Chen.

Figure 15. Detail of guidelines on the surface of the Medallion Beaker. Photograph by Joanne Pillsbury.

Figure 16. Base of the Water Channel Beaker. Drawing by Hélène Bernier.

Figure 17. Detail of the Water Channel Beaker (Section A).

Figure 18. Detail of the rollout drawing of the Water Channel Beaker showing supernaturals associated with the sea. Drawing by Hélène Bernier.

Figure 19. Detail of the rollout drawing of the Water Channel Beaker showing supernatural figures associated with the land. Drawing by Hélène Bernier.

Figure 20. Rollout drawing of the Medallion Beaker (Denver 2). Original drawing prepared by Hélène Bernier; revised by Wilson Santiago.

Figure 21. Detail of Figure A.

Figure 22. Detail of Figure B.

Figure 23. Miniature loom with textile. Silver. Dimensions: Overall: 15.5 × 10.3 × 1 cm (6 1/8 × 4 1/16 × 3/8 in.). Gift of Alfred M. Tozzer and Donald Scott, 1946 © President and Fellows of Harvard College, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, PM 48-37-30/7162.

Figure 24. Detail of Figure C.

Figure 25. Feathered headdress, reportedly recovered from Chan Chan in the early 20th century, National Museum of the American Indian, no. 157355.000 [15/7355]). Photograph courtesy of Heidi King.

Figure 26. Detail of the Medallion Beaker, Figure D.

Figure 27. Pincers in the shape of a Spondylus shell. Chimú. Huarura Province, Huacho, Hacienda Humaya, Peru. Silver. Dimensions: 4 × 7.1 × 6.9 cm (1 9/16 × 2 13/16 × 2 1/16 in.). Museum purchase, 1948 © President and Fellows of Harvard College, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 46-77-30/6158.

Figure 28. Detail of Figure E.

Figure 29. Detail of Figure F.

Figure 30. Detail of Figure G.

Figure 31. Detail of Figure H.

Figure 32. Bowl with medallion decorations. Silver. Dimensions: H. 2 1/4 × W. 8 × D. 7 3/4 in. (5.7 × 20.3 × 19.7 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1969 (Accession Number: 1978.412.220).

Figure 33. Detail of the Medallion Beaker, medallion with boat.

Figure 34. Detail of the Medallion Beaker, medallion with divers.