Description:

Pre-Columbian, North Coast of Peru, Moche, ca. 200 to 800 CE. A cast copper pendant depicting either a ruler or the deity Ai Apaec, standing with a club weapon in his hands and adorned with a flared crown topped by an ornamental head. The piece features four loops on the verso, suggesting it may have been used as a pendant or decorative fitting. Ai Apaec, the principal Moche deity, represents creation, food, water, military victory, and is the most feared yet revered among the Moche gods. Often called the "headsman" or "decapitator god," Ai Apaec's iconography varies, but he is typically shown with a ferocious combination of human, aquatic crab, spider, and jaguar traits. Size: 1.3" L x 0.75" W x 2" H (3.3 cm x 1.9 cm x 5.1 cm); 2.25" H (5.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection

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#190051

    Condition:
  • Softening to details and minor abrasions, but otherwise intact. Green patina and oxidation, and mineral deposits in recessed areas.

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November 15, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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