Moche Gilded Copper Alloy Disc Ornament ritualobjects probably jasper

probably jasper

spheric form

once essential to warfare

Their size and weight determined their function: smaller whorls rotated faster

sold at Christie’s New York

Moche Gilded Copper Alloy Disc Ornament ritualobjects probably jasperPre Columbian Era, Moche Culture, Moche Phase IIIV, c. 200600 AD, Northern Peru A remarkable and exquisitely crafted gilded copper disc applique, likely symbolizing the Sun, a revered celestial force in Moche religious beliefs. The disc features a small suspension hole, indicating it was originally affixed to a ceremonial object, textile, or weapon. The exact function of such ornaments remains uncertain, though scholars suggest they may have been used