The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 16, 2024

Disk-Shaped Chest Plaque

Disk-Shaped Chest Plaque

c. 700–1550
hammered gold
Overall: 19.8 x 19.6 x 2.5 cm (7 13/16 x 7 11/16 x 1 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Newton D. Baker in memory of her husband, Newton D. Baker 1950.386
Location: 233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region

Description

Technologically, this pectoral (chest plaque) is unlike the other gold shown in this case. Rather than being cast of molten metal, it was made by hammering metal into a thin sheet. Costa Rican and Panamanian metalsmiths favored casting, but they were skilled in hammering, a technology better suited to creating large objects with glittering, reflective surfaces. The import of the breast-like protrusions is unknown.
  • Treasures of Peruvian Gold. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (February 23-April 3, 1966).
    Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art; February 23-April 3, 1966. "Treasures of Peruvian Gold."
  • {{cite web|title=Disk-Shaped Chest Plaque|url=false|author=|year=c. 700–1550|access-date=16 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1950.386