Fine example of silver workmanship from the Inca culture that stretched between Ecuador to the north and Chile/Bolivia to the south. Ca 1300 to 1450 AD. Headpiece of thinly hammered silver with raised crosses, perforated at each end for attachment via leather or textile strips, now gone. Single repaired tear else excellent condition. Band measures 11-3/8" x 1-5/8". ...click for details
Rare and fine set of 4 Mochica / Moche Lime Spoons, from ancient Peru, ca. 0 - 400 A.D. Made from cast silver, three depict hummingbirds and one depicts a stylized jaguar. Professionally mounted on a museum-grade black metal stand. Each about 3" in length and intact/excellent condition.
Ancient gold turtle from the Chiriqui-Diquis region of Costa Rica, ca. 800 to 1200 A.D. With unusual split tail, legs ceremonially "killed" in ancient times. Weighing a hefty 62 grams of high-carat gold with section of carapace beneath split and exposing a wafer-like manufacturing process that today has never quite been understood or duplicated. Custom mount. 2-1/2" from nose to tail x 2"W, in generally excellent condition save missing appendages and single repair to one ...click for details
Large and impressive! From the north coast of Peru, Chimu culture, ca. 1000 A.D. Handcrafted silver kero / drinking vessel formed by hammering a piece of sheet metal over a wooden core, then adding facial expressions and detailing. Used by Royalty for drinking chicha during festivals and other rituals (a mildly alcoholic beverage). Silver, though valued less than gold in today’s societies, was highly prized and valued nearly as highly as gold in the ancient Andean Empires, being representativ ...click for details
Beautiful! Ancient Pre-Columbian Silver Kero from Peru, Sican culture, ca. 800 A.D. Drinking vessel crafted from sheet silver with rows of raised, spiral stars. A very solid beaker. 6-1/2"H, intact/choice condition, professionally conserved and polished.
PROVENANCE: Ex-private Southwestern USA Collection. ...click for details
Impressive example! Ancient Pre-Columbian Bronze Tumi, from Peru, Inca culture, ca. 1400 – 1500 A.D. Cast and hammered solid bronze knife / ceremonial blade features a standing male figure with a dog or similar animal he is pulling along. Loop opening on back. Allover greenish-blue patina. Tumis were used in ritual sacrifice in the Andes for thousands of years and are frequently seen in artworks in the hands of deities and supernaturals about to perform an act of sacrifice. The knives themse ...click for details
Ancient Pre-Columbian Bronze Lime Dipper, from ancient Peru, Chimu culture, ca. 200 - 499 A.D. Cast bronze capped with a crouching bird with curved beak at top of the dipper shaft. Lime dippers were used in connection with gourd or metal containers which held the powdered mineral lime necessary as a catalyst in chewing coca leaves. The dipper tip was moistened so that the requisite small amount of lime would adhere. 3"L, tip of beak missing, tail re-glued, else very good.
...click for details
Important and early! From the north coast of Peru, Mochica / Moche culture, ca. 200 B.C. - 100 A.D. Gold / gilded Masquette with inlaid eyes and danglers on ears and around mask edges. Expressive facial features. Custom museum-quality mount. Mask itself measures 4"D, intact/generally excellent condition, save a few missing danglers. ...click for details
A stunning piece of gold! Ancient Pre-Columbian Gold Mask from Columbia, ca. 0-100 A.D. Manufactured from a single sheet of metal of high carat gold that represents the Sun with hand-hammered anthropomorphic features. Complete with rootmarks. 5-3/4"H x 9"W, intact/generally excellent, save old repair to forehead. Museum-quality mount.
...click for details
Superb! Ancient Pre-Columbian Gold Armband, Wari / Huari culture, ca. 650 - 1100 A.D. Thin, embossed gold sheets repousse with faces, serpent/snakes and skeleton masks. Examples like this usually were reserved for gods or royalty. These ancient peoples worked their gold by hammering it into fine sheets which could be cut with stone shears, then decoratively embossed. The gold was naturally very pure and enabled the ancient pre-Columbian craftsmen to progress quickly to discovering metallurg ...click for details
