Description:

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 BCE to 100 CE. An impressive Moche tumi, a ceremonial knife that features a copper alloy lord king warrior finial holding a mace in one hand and gold adorned shield in the other. Dressed like a lord king, he wears an elaborate headdress with three gold appliques and a small owl head at its center. He stands on a central plinth below which is entwined with a golden-eyed serpent and jaguar head from which the actual ceremonial knife blade emerges. The blade itself is a silver copper alloy and would have hade a bright silver appearance when new. The blade itself has been sharpened and may have seen some ceremonial or sacrificial use. Size: 1.25"" W x 7.5"" H (3.2 cm x 19 cm); 9"" H (22.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Warfare and warriors are recurrent themes in Moche art, a strong testimony to the violence of Moche society which was riven by intense rivalry and competition. After battles, triumphant warriors ceremonially severed the heads of their opponents, hence trophy head motifs often appear in Moche visual culture.

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#173359

  • Condition: Intact and excellent with heavily patinated surface.

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October 20, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

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