The ethnohistoric and archaeological record provides ample evidence of the ideological significance of metals and pigments in the pre-Columbian Andean world. This study explores the use of these materials in the complex decorative techniques utilized by the Inca when finishing stone vessels. This research integrates data generated from ethnohistoric sources, portable X-Ray Fluorescent (pXRF) tests, and reconstructive experimentation in order to provide a better understanding of how metals and pigments were used by the Inca to signify the elevated status of certain stone vessels. My objective is to show that the decorative processes implemented in the construction of stone vessels can illuminate how these artifacts were used within Inca society.