Profile Warrior Ornament 6th–7th century Moche (Loma Negra) This warrior figure, shown in profile, was made from gilded copper sheet by artisans of Peru’s Moche culture. They indicated a walking motion by the way the weight of the figure is on the advanced foot, while the other leg is bent to initiate a step forward. The figure, one of two in the Met’s collection (the other is accession number ), is dressed in traditional Moche warrior regalia. He wears a stepped headdress surmounted by a crescent, and an extension hanging behind the head probably represents his wrapped hair. A tuni
Profile Warrior Ornament 6th–7th century Moche (Loma Negra) This warrior figure, shown in profile, was made from gilded copper sheet by artisans of Peru’s Moche culture. They indicated a walking motion by the way the weight of the figure is on the advanced foot, while the other leg is bent to initiate a step forward. The figure, one of two in the Met’s collection (the other is accession number ), is dressed in traditional Moche warrior regalia. He wears a stepped headdress surmounted by a crescent, and an extension hanging behind the head probably represents his wrapped hair. A tunic and loincloth constitute his garments, and an extension from his waist may represent a back flap, a type of body armor. The headdress, hair wrap, tunic, and back flap have an inscribed pattern of horizontal lines. The lower border of the tunic features intersecting triangles, a detail seen on other Moche figures (see, for example, Met accession number ). The warrior’s body is made from a single piece of embossed metal with the arm formed from a supplemental piece attached to torso by an interior flange. The figure grasps a long mace, made of a separate piece of copper, in his left hand. It is possible that a right arm once existed but is now lost. Round dangles suspended from flat copper wires adorn the temple and back of the head. The eye was made of white shell, with a pupil of a different shell type, perhaps purple Spondylus. (The original color of the shell has faded over time.) The warrior was probably covered with textiles when buried, as traces of fabric are embedded in the corrosion and textile impressions are present in the copper patina. A small remnant of what may have been a thick thread is present in a hole in the sole of one foot indicating that this figure may have been sewn or affixed onto a backing of some type. The function of these and other similar profile figures is unknown. These objects were said to have been found at the burial sit
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Photo credit: © MET/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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