Butterfly Nose Ornament

Nose ornaments or pendants are called nariguera and were likely worn by important figures and during ceremonies. The level of embellishment of a nariguera may indicate the social or political status of the wearer or the occasion for which the ornament would have been worn. Moche nariguera that survive today range from being completely flat with no surface decoration to being inlaid with colorful precious stones.

The Butterfly Nose Ornament in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art’s collection is very large and would have covered the entire lower half of the wearer’s face. The small oval opening along the top edge would have allowed the ornament to lightly clamp around the wearer’s septum. This ornament features a butterfly mounted on a large, flat, reflective surface. The butterfly is rendered in great anatomical detail. Its body is divided into rounded segments, and the head, with antenna and large eyes, is perched on top. The wings are decorated with raised spots and wing veins and are mounted on small springs, which allow the wings to flutter with the slightest movement. The entire insect is attached to the main body of the disk by thin copper legs.