Chimú Silver Rattle Knives

Room 9, Vitrine 109

Metal
Peruvian Northern Coast
Imperial Epoch (1300 AD – 1532 AD)
ML100690, ML100691, ML100696, ML100697, ML101574.

The handles of these silver Chimú rattles are shaped like ceremonial knives. They have holes in the sound box which serve to amplify the sound.

Several types of musical instruments were made by the cultures of ancient Peru. Percussion instruments included rattles of varying shapes and sizes made from different materials.