Page 525 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

fig. 3. The Inka site of Machu Picchu before the pinnacle of Huayna Picchu

A golden sheep, assessed at i/cts., weighing smiths in Cuzco were made to melt down most in metals that lend themselves to this social
one hundred and thirteen marks, four ounces of the treasure: role; their brilliance is another. In addition,
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A golden woman, assessed at i8cts., weighing It was a thing worthy of witnessing, this the colors of gold and silver had come to sym-
one hundred and five marks, five ounces, and house where the melting was done, full of so bolize the light of the sun and the moon, form-
seven ochavas. 31 much gold in plates of eight and ten pounds ing an important way of linking cosmology and
each, and in table service; jars and pieces of divine power to elites and rulership.
Francisco Pizarro was allowed by Spanish law various forms with which these lords were Early descriptions of the rulers and their
and custom to select for his own an article from served, among other singular things to be ceremonies show the importance of gold and
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the spoils. He chose a golden litter, said to have other metals. Common among surviving Inka
weighed more than two hundred pounds. 32 seen were... ten or twelve figures of women, metal objects are the tupu pins, frequently in
size of women of this land, all of fine
of the
No Inka work in gold or silver even remotely gold and as beautiful and well made as if they silver, used to fasten women's garments. Their
approaching these sizes is known today, although 33 counterparts for elite males were probably ear
smaller figures indicate how some of the animal were living. ornaments, although almost none have survived
and human forms may have appeared. Pedro Objects of precious metals were major indica- from the Inka period. The Spanish referred to
Sancho, one of Pizarro's scribes, gives a glimpse tors of status and prestige. Their surface color is men of high status as orejones ("big ears"), a
of the destruction that took place when Inka certainly one of the many qualities inherent reference to the elongation of their earlobes

524 CIRCA 1492