Sicán Tall Gold Beaker with Mask and Frog Motif

Culture: Sicán Region: Peru Date/Origin: Circa AD 850–1150 Type: Beaker Material: Gold Dimensions: 6 1/2 in. Description: Tall hammered gold ceremonial beaker decorated with repoussé mask and frog imagery. The central mask likely represents the Sicán Deity, a prominent supernatural figure in Lambayeque religious iconography. Frogs appear in repeated medallions and are commonly associated with water, fertility, and seasonal renewal along Peru’s north coast. Vessels of this type were used in elite ritual contexts and reflect the refined sheet-gold working tradition of the Sicán culture. Weight: 187 grams. Provenance: From the Estate of Jan Mitchell. Illustrated in The Art of PreColombian Gold, p. 227.