Object Image

Beaker (kero)

Cylindrical beakers with flaring sides, called keros, are a vessel form popular when the cities of Wari and Tiwanaku dominated the central and southern Andes. Used for the consumption of chicha (corn beer) during ceremonies and everyday gatherings, they played an important role in the maintenance of social and political relations. Keros were made of wood, fired clay, gold, and silver—the material reflecting the social status of the owner. They are decorated on the exterior with religious imagery and geometric motifs. On the circumference of this kero are four anthropomorphized winged figures in low but crisp relief. Its abstract carving style, distortion of the figures, and dense ornamentation ...
7th-10th century
Wood
11.4 x 6.4cm
1978.412.214
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection