Moche Gilded Copper Ear Spools // Chasquis

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 600 CE. A very large pair of matched gilded copper earspools, the faces adorned with intricate depictions of running Chasqui, the warrior messenger of the Lord King, holding a shield and intimidating war club in one hand and a libation kero perhaps for a bloodletting ceremony in the other. Dressed to the nines, he wears an elaborate headdress adorned by a tumi and a feather ornament, a plume-like ornament on his nose, and a bracelet. Additional reliefs depicting perhaps war clubs or quipus are depicted in the background.

Chasquis were messengers of the elite lords who carried messages, gifts, and quipus thousands of miles via a relay system. In addition to being physically fit and well-trained, they had the ability to read and translate khipus, making it possible to deliver messages to one another at tambos (relay stations) and ultimately between their superiors. In addition to quipus, they oftentimes held conch shell trumpets in order to signal to the next chasqui in the system, ensuring that he be at the ready, so that no time would be wasted. Any goldwork from the Moche is exceedingly rare, as their treasures were targeted by plunderers during Colonial times.