Stepped Beaker Possibly 1000 - 1532

This stepped beaker was created by the Inca people using metalworking techniques. Notice the green hue, the result of oxidation over time. Originally, it would have had a shiny, bronze-like surface. The beaker's stepped form isn't just decorative; it adds structural strength, necessary because of the hammering and annealing process used to shape the metal. Skilled metal workers would have carefully worked the material, heating and cooling it to achieve the desired form without cracking. The labor required for the extraction, smelting, and working of metals was considerable, reflecting the Incan Empire's highly organized system of resource management and social control. Objects like this weren't just functional; they were potent symbols of wealth, status, and power. Thinking about this object, it is important to remember the skill and labor that went into making it, and its cultural significance, and so we can move beyond Western distinctions between art and craft.