Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chimu culture, ca. 1100 to 1470 CE. Wow! Can you imagine wearing one of these? A huge silver nose ring of crescent-form, hammered to an almost-paper-thin, openwork design. Enveloped in a rich patina, the stunning adornment boasts an elaborate motif of 2 seated monkeys facing one another with their bodies in profile and their heads turned toward the viewer. The ancient simians feature slender bodies and sinuous tails as they grab a staff or torch positioned between them. Both animals gaze outwards, displaying annular eyes, triangular noses, and open mouths, all flanked by circular earspools and crowned by hemispherical headdresses with high-arching plumes. A stippled motif adorns the periphery of the nose ring, while a suspension hook caps it, allowing it to be worn. Despite its size, the ornament is surprisingly light and still highly wearable if you dare! Size: 4.7" W x 3.2" H (11.9 cm x 8.1 cm); silver quality: 96.3%; weight: 10.3 grams

This item would have belonged to a high-ranking member of society and would have been worn only on very special occasions. It might also have accompanied one of the dead on their final journey - or, given Andean custom, may have been brought out and displayed on a mummy.

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169570

  • Condition: Break to upper left corner. Bending and warping to metal, but form is still clear. Some abrasions, softening of detail, miniscule fissures, and minor flaking, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with great patina.

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February 24, 2022 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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