ANCIENT MODS UPDATE, 4/25/12 - The Long Shaft [900-1470ce]

“North Coast ear ornaments typically have a long shaft that balanced the weight of the glorious frontal. This pair illustrates Chimú interest in the sea, which had great economic and religious importance. On the shafts are bands of seabirds and waves, and a similar pattern edges the frontals, which were altered in modern times. Originally solid disks, the frontals’ centers were cut out and a dotted band was added to the rim.” - Cleveland Museum of Art

Ear Flare

Creator - Peru, North Coast, Chimú Style
Culture - South American; Pre-Columbian; Chimú
Date - 900-1470
Period - Pre-Columbian
Materials - Hammered Gold Alloy
Dimensions - Diameter 8cm, 
Repository - The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Website - http://www.clemusart.com/
ID Number - CMA_.1947.180.2

fuckyeahfluiddynamics:

In this video, artist Afiq Omar mixes ferrofluid with soap, alcohol, milk, and other liquids to create a surrealistic fluidic dance. In addition to using different fluid mixtures, I suspect he accomplishes many effects using several different permanent magnets and electromagnets to vary the magnetic fields around the ferrofluid mixtures. (Video credit: Afiq Omar; via Wired)

(Source: vimeo.com)

Came across this amazing film on Body Piercer, Rick Gilmour’s FB page. Just stunning to watch this man’s technique in making a plug out of a log, pressing red pigment out of shavings of bark, painting the delicate pattern around the mound carved in the underside…. “Beautiful video from a time many have forgotten. The enlargement of piercings is culturally significant to all of us, whether you are European, Asian, African, South American and so on. It is a part of our shared history and identity. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. ♥ - Rick Gilmour”

ANCIENT MODS UPDATE, 4/8/12 - In Context

I am fond of this first image as a rare display of a full suite of golden ornaments around a body figure. I was lucky enough to travel to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, the heart of the Incan Empire, and can only imagine how absolutely breathtaking these displays would have been in the high andean mountain ranges in glaring summer sun.

Note that the large discs near the head are tapered earspools, much like those seen in the second image, whose shafts are embossed with geometric patterning. The collection of figures in high relief are not solid cast objects, but are hammered up from thin sheets of gold.

Image #1: Parure
Culture - Chimu
Date - 850-1470 c.e.
Period - Late Intermediate Period
Region - Coastal Peru
Materials - Gold
Repository - Museo Arquelogico Rafael Larco Herrera. Lima, Peru.

Image #2: Pair of Ear Plugs
Culture - Chimu
Date - 12th - 15th Century
Period - Pre-Columbian
Region - Peru
Materials - Gold
Dimensions - 13.5 cm
Repository - Private Collection.

(Source: mikedaoo)

Inspiration: The work of Genne Laakso.