Moche Gilded Copper Alloy Disc Ornament ritualobjects sold at Christie’s New York

sold at Christie’s New York

once essential to warfare

thereby relieving their suffering

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

This offering plate

Moche Gilded Copper Alloy Disc Ornament ritualobjects sold at Christie’s New YorkPre 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