Inka and Aztec Art
A mask of the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca greets visitors entering the Philip Johnson pavilion. Other carvings, including large serpents, animal effigies, and a mirror or altar made of polished obsidian, demonstrate the great skill of Aztec lapidary artists. Delicate figures of copper, silver, and gold attest to the abilities of metallurgists in the Inka Empire. Objects currently on display in Gallery VIII are part of Dumbarton Oaks' permanent collection.