Description:

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Loma Negra region, Moche, ca. 100 to 300 CE. A gorgeous gilt copper crown, with a magnificent adornment depicting a portrait face of a lord with inlaid shell eyes & turquoise pupils surrounded by dangler discs. The headband is a wide sheet that wraps around the wearer’s head with perforations at the terminal tips for securing with copper wires or adding a cloth headdress wrap. The applique is attached separately- the ovoid panel repousse and molded with the lord's face in the center, wearing a headdress mounted to his brow. Surrounding are the dangling ornaments, that undoubtably caught the light as dazzling elements that lightly tinkled as the wearer moved, announcing their esteemed presence. This is a masterwork of Moche copper smithing, a technique developed to create shiny and beautiful metalworks that had more tensile strength than pure gold alone. Size: 7.25" Diameter x 5.5" H (18.4 cm x 14 cm); 16.75" H (42.5 cm) on included custom stand; gold quality: 18% to 25%; weight: 335.6 grams

For a similar type of ornate headdress crown, please see the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website, accession number: 1987.394.145.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, before 2010; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, acquired in the 1950s to 1960s

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#173833

  • Condition: Repaired. Headband repaired, infill to break lines, and lord applique reattached. Tears to gold head band and chips to applique. Loss to several danglers. Dark patina and toning throughout.

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September 1, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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
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