1976.W.997 Nose ornament (Peru, Chimú)

Prestige was conveyed not only through finely woven textiles, such as tunics, mantles, and headdresses, but also through facial and bodily ornaments. In particular, ear ornaments were common status markers in the Andes for over 3,000 years. By the Late Horizon (1400-1532 CE), golden ear ornaments were worn exclusively by the Inca under their imperial control.

In addition to ear ornaments, nose ornaments were popular from at least the Early Horizon (900-200 BCE), varying in size and elaboration throughout Andean culture history. This simple crescent nose ornament is a typical example of these common nose adornments.

Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1983.W.991; 1983.W.992; 1976.W.997; 1976.W.1000.a–b], 2015.

Chimú: AAT: 300017316

Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056

silver (metal): AAT: 300011029

solder: AAT: 300010993

repoussé: AAT: 300054023

sheet metal: AAT: 300223016

annealing: AAT: 300053886

chasing (metalworking): AAT: 300054016

embossing (technique): AAT: 300053826

metalwork: AAT: 300015336

Late Intermediate Period: AAT: 300017313

jewelry: AAT: 300209286

ornaments: AAT: 300266794

nose ornaments (jewelry): AAT: 300211628

crescent (motif): AAT: 300165510

prestige: AAT: 300343604

shiny (shine): AAT: 300065244

Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]

From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [1], [2]

[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.997