Description:

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 300 CE. A very large, crescent shaped, 16K gold nose ornament made from hammered gold river nuggets, with a circular opening and a small slit above for wearing. Size: 5.125" W x 2" H (13 cm x 5.1 cm); 4.375" H (11.1 cm) on included custom stand. Weight: 10.6 grams

The crescent form of this object mirrors that of many known Moche gold items - headdresses and pectorals were also rendered in the crescent form, and they derive much of their impressiveness from the wide reflective surface they present to the viewer. Beyond the purely aesthetic, this shape may also relate to beliefs about the moon. For instance, we know that among the later Inca, Si, the moon goddess, was thought to be more powerful than the sun, because she could be seen both at night and during the day. This object probably belonged to a male, because in ancient Peru, gold seems to have been reserved for elite men, while silver was reserved for elite women.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Fred Leighton (a famous jeweler) collection, Madison Avenue, New York, New York, USA

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#132587

  • Condition: Minor surface wear with slight scratches and areas of tarnish.

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April 17, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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