Earflare Frontal
This gold disk, once attached to a cylindrical shaft to create an ear ornament, was created by Moche metalsmiths on Peru’s North Coast between the 3rd and 7th centuries. The central figure launches a projectile—likely an articulated spear—with the aid of a throwing stick while he points with his other (right) hand. The figure wears a tunic and a loincloth, the latter indicated by lightly engraved parallel horizontal lines. Raylike extensions from the head and body terminate in circular forms with raised borders, now filled with turquoise inlays. The figure itself wears two ear ornaments that may have once also held inlays, now missing. Unlike the rest of the figure, which is rendered in low relief, the masklike face is rendered in high relief. The composition is encircled by a raised plain border, and the circumference of the ornament is embellished with 38 hollow spheres soldered to the rim.
This earflare frontal is one of a pair; its mate is presently in the collection of the National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington D.C. (16/1979; see Wardwell 1968-1969, no. 14). On the NMAI frontal the warrior holds the throwing stick and spear in his right hand and points with the left. The NMAI frontal now lacks inlays, although perforations in the circular forms suggest that they may have once been present. If the Met ornament was worn in the left ear and the NMAI one in the right, both figures would be seen as facing forward.
Often called earspools, the frontals of these ornaments were attached to long tubular shafts that would have been inserted through the stretched earlobes of a high-status individual, a conspicuous display of the wearer’s power and position. For many years, scholars believed that such ornaments were worn only by men; recent archaeological studies on Peru’s north coast, however, reveal that such ornaments were worn by certain high-status women as well.
References and further reading
Alva, Walter and Christopher B. Donnan.Royal Tombs of Sipán. Los Angeles: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 1999.
Castillo, Luis Jaime. “Masters of the Universe: Moche Artists and Their Patrons.” In Golden Kingdoms: Luxury Arts in the Ancient Americas, edited by Joanne Pillsbury, Timothy Potts, and Kim N. Richter. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2017, pp. 24-31.
Donnan, Christopher B. “Moche State Religion.” In New Perspectives on Moche Political Organization, edited by Jeffrey Quilter and Luis Jaime Castillo. Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2010, pp. 47-69.
Seo, Ji Mary. “How to Wear Body Ornaments from the Ancient Americas.” In
Wardwell, Alan. The Gold of Ancient America. Exh. cat. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1968-1969, no. 14.
Wester La Torre, Carlos. Chornancap: Palacio de una gobernante y sacerdotisa de la cultura Lambayeque. Chiclayo: Ministerio de Cultura del Perú, 2016.
This earflare frontal is one of a pair; its mate is presently in the collection of the National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington D.C. (16/1979; see Wardwell 1968-1969, no. 14). On the NMAI frontal the warrior holds the throwing stick and spear in his right hand and points with the left. The NMAI frontal now lacks inlays, although perforations in the circular forms suggest that they may have once been present. If the Met ornament was worn in the left ear and the NMAI one in the right, both figures would be seen as facing forward.
Often called earspools, the frontals of these ornaments were attached to long tubular shafts that would have been inserted through the stretched earlobes of a high-status individual, a conspicuous display of the wearer’s power and position. For many years, scholars believed that such ornaments were worn only by men; recent archaeological studies on Peru’s north coast, however, reveal that such ornaments were worn by certain high-status women as well.
References and further reading
Alva, Walter and Christopher B. Donnan.Royal Tombs of Sipán. Los Angeles: UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 1999.
Castillo, Luis Jaime. “Masters of the Universe: Moche Artists and Their Patrons.” In Golden Kingdoms: Luxury Arts in the Ancient Americas, edited by Joanne Pillsbury, Timothy Potts, and Kim N. Richter. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2017, pp. 24-31.
Donnan, Christopher B. “Moche State Religion.” In New Perspectives on Moche Political Organization, edited by Jeffrey Quilter and Luis Jaime Castillo. Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2010, pp. 47-69.
Seo, Ji Mary. “How to Wear Body Ornaments from the Ancient Americas.” In
MetKids Blog
. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018. https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/metkids/2018/how-to-wear-body-ornaments-from-the-ancient-americas.Wardwell, Alan. The Gold of Ancient America. Exh. cat. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1968-1969, no. 14.
Wester La Torre, Carlos. Chornancap: Palacio de una gobernante y sacerdotisa de la cultura Lambayeque. Chiclayo: Ministerio de Cultura del Perú, 2016.
Artwork Details
- Title: Earflare Frontal
- Date: 3rd–7th century
- Geography: Peru
- Culture: Moche
- Medium: Gold, turquoise
- Dimensions: D. 1/2 × Diam. 3 1/4 in. (1.3 × 8.3 cm)
- Classification: Metal-Ornaments
- Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
- Object Number: 1979.206.513
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Moche artist(s)
400–700 CE
Moche artist(s)
400–700 CE
Lambayeque (Sicán) artist(s)
900–1100 CE
Moche artist(s)
500–850 CE
Moche artist(s)
200–900 CE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.