Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Inca Empire, ca. 1200 to 1400 CE. A captivating plaque, shaped from a rectangular plaque of 85.2% to 95.23% silver, depicting a highly stylized anthropomorphic face in repousse. The semicircular countenance exhibits large, diamond-shaped eyes with generous eyelids, a protruding nose with a slightly crooked profile, deep nasolabial folds separating the cheeks from the mouth, and downturned lips. The cheeks, temples, nasal bridge, and forehead are accentuated with a thick layer of red cinnabar which has preserved a layer of textile material which was present at one time. Size (mask): 7.1" W x 6" H (18 cm x 15.2 cm); silver quality: 85.2% to 95.23%; (display case): 10.5" L x 13.5" W x 13.4" H (26.7 cm x 34.3 cm x 34 cm)

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.

Provenance: private Hawaii collection, purchased July 2, 2015; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Thomas M. Messer collection, former director of the Guggenheim Museum, New York, New York, USA

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.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#177469

  • Condition: Professional repaired and restored with extensive surface cleaning and polishing as well as resurfacing and light overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and roughness to original material and pigment, with light encrustations, slight bending to overall form, and thick patina in some uncleaned areas. Nice patina across face. Plaque has not been removed from display stand for weighing.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

March 9, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 26.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000