Indigenous Americas (1000BCE - 1980CE)

Jacques Paye

900–200 B.C.E.
Northern highlands, Peru.
Chavín.
Stone (architectural complex); granite (Lanzón and sculpture); hammered gold alloy (jewelry).

Chavín de Huántar

Cultural Context: Chavin

Content: Old and New Temples

Formal Aspects: Maze-like interior, made of roughly-shaped stones

Function: Worship of Lanzon

Chavin de Huantar

Date: 1375–1520 C.E
Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City, Mexico)
Mexica (Aztec)
Stone, volcanic stone, jadeite, basalt

Templo Mayor (Main Temple)

Cultural Context: Center of Mexica capital

Content: twin temples at peak to Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc

Formal Aspects: 90 ft. high, covered in stucco. Grand staircases

Function: Site of large rituals and human sacrifices to deities.

Templo Mayor (Main Temple)

c. 1400–1533 C.E
Modern-day Peru
Inka
Sheet metal/repousée, gold and silver alloys.

Silver and gold maize cobs

Cultural Context: Inka, modern-day Peru

Content: Ripe ear of corn

Formal Aspects: Repousée, gold and silver sheets used.

Function: Found in a miniature garden, compact version of cosmos

Silver and Gold Maize Cobs

Ruler's feather headdress:

Date: 16th century

Geography: modern-day Mexico

Culture: Aztec peoples

Medium: Quetzal feathers, wood, fibers, gold, brass

Dimensions: 116 cm high, 175 cm diameter

Ruler's feather headdress:

Cultural Context: Aztec, modern-day mexico

Content: Quetzal feathers arranged in semi-circle

Formal Aspects: Shimmering, iridescent feathers.

Function: Demonstrate LD trade and add to visual power of ruler

Feathered Headdress:

Tutenkhamun's mask (L), Bundu Mask (R)

c. 1440 CE
Central highlands, Peru
Inka
Sandstone

City of Cusco

Cultural Context: Capital of Inka Empire

Content: Qorikancha (most sacred shrine), Saqsa Wayman (fortress walls)

Formal Aspects: Very intricate masonry, rectangular blocks for important buildings

Function: Ceremonial and political capital of Inka empire

City of Cusco

City of Cusco:

Tholos tomb, Mycenae

Walls of Troy

c. 1450–1540 C.E.
Central highlands, Peru.
Granite blocks
Inka peoples

Machu Picchu

Cultural Context: Royal estate for the first Inka emperor

Content: Houses, terraces

Formal Aspects: Excellent stonework, sophisticated water management

Function: Emperor lived part of year, includes Observatory

Machu Picchu

Stonehenge

Citadel of Sargon II (Dur Sharrukin)

1450–1540 C.E.
Inka
Modern Peru
Camelid fiber and cotton.

All-T’oqapu tunic

Cultural Context: Inka

Content: Intricately woven tunic

Formal Aspects: Camelid and cotton fibers, dyed and woven on backstrap loom

Function: Would have been worn by someone of high rank, woven by the acllas ("chosen women")

Maya's Quilt of Life by

Faith Ringgold

The Last Judgment of Hunefer

Sources:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/330
http://www.templomayor.inah.gob.mx/
http://artdaily.com/news/58955/Legendary-Aztec-Emperor-Moctezuma-II-s-feather-head-dress-restored-in-Vienna--#.Vq6uU1mdXwo
http://denverartmuseum.org/article/staff-blogs/science-museum-analyzing-fifteenth-century-inca-corn-stalk-part-1
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/ap-art-history/indigenous-americas/

Indigenous Americas (1000BCE - 1980CE)

Indigenous Americas

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