Peru, Pre-Inca Chucu “Tile” with Geometric Checkerboard
These "tiles" or “plaques known as Chucus, are offerings to the mountains. They are made from large storage vessels broken or collapsed and recycled with the inside wall painted with mineral pigments and hematite. They are found in caves stacked on top of each other and are generally considered as offerings to the gods for water and fertility. These plaques were string cut into squares or rectangles in sizes ranging from 5” to 18” squared. The “tiles” are decorated with a Checkerboard of Cinnabar and Hematite. Similar examples are illustrated in ANCESTORS OF THE INCAS-The lost Civilizations of Peru by Kauffman- Doig, pg.141
Period: Peru, Ica/Chincha, South Coast, c. AD 1000 - 1450
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Length 6" x Width 5.5"
$500
MM714
Peru, Chancay House with Seated Man in Two Room Interior
This ceramic piece represents the interior of a house. The inside is divided into two alcoves. One alcove is enclosed on three sides, with a crosshatch pattern on the exterior, and the other is open to expose a seated man facing outward. He sits with an open vessel in front of him. The two outside walls are higher than the ones inside.
Period: Peru, Chancay, Central Coast, c. AD 1100 - 1430
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Length, 7 2/8 in, width 4 12/16 in, height 4 in.
Price Upon Request
92237
Peru, Blackware Vessel in The Form of a Bonito
This fish is identifiable as a bonito by its pointed mouth and teeth. In the same family as tuna, but smaller, the bonito is one of the most abundant fish in north coastal Peru.
Period: Peru, Lambayeque, North Coast, c. AD 500 - 1100
Media: Ceramic
Dimensions: Length: 8" x Height: 8 1/4"
$1,500
n2016
Peru, Inca Large Bronze Axe with Curved Blade
This blade exhibits classic Inca style, which employed crisp, clean, artistic lines, even for simple tools. It has a cast hole for attachment to the side of a shaft which it would have been lashed to. These axes were forged from tin bronze, the official metal of the Inca realm, in a process called slush casting. Molten bronze was poured into open molds. For more examples of lunate axes see Carcedo de Mufarech (1999: figs. 164 and 165).
Technical Features
The blade was annealed after casting to sharpen the cutting edge.
Period: Peru, Inca, North Coast, c. AD 1350 - 500
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Height 5" x Width: 5.75
XRF Data
Base: Ag 0.100 ,As 1.530 Cd 0.01, Cu 96.270, Mn 0.020, Ni 0.010, Pb 0.010, Sb 0.110, Se 0.100, Zn 0.01.
$1,200
MM228B
Peru, Silver Tupu with Bird Eating Corn Cob
This tupu depicts a bird diving into the corn cob. The shaft is decorated with spindle designs. Lost wax cast. Silver works do not survive as well as gold or bronze; this tupu is in a very good state of preservation.
Period: Peru, Chimu, North Coast, c. AD 900 - 1350
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 5 1/4" x Weight: 8.5 grams
$1,750
MM611
Peru, Inca Gold Pin Topped with Bird Perched on Corn Cob
Gold from the Inca period is rare as most has been melted down by the Conquistadores. These pins are mostly found made of silver and were used to pin a garment closed. What appears to be a simple pin is complicated in its manufacture. The pin with the corn cob is cast. The bird is made of a separate stamped sheet, designed head to head, bent, and soldered to itself. The bird was then fitted over the top to appear as one piece. Private Florida collection, prior to 1980. A similar piece appears in "Kunst Und Kultur von Peru" (Art and Culture of Peru) by Max Schmidt, p.396.
Period: Peru, Chimu, North Coast, c. AD 900 - 1350
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Length: 5" Weight: 4.7 grams
Price Upon Request
MM625
Peru, Inca Bronze Star Mace
This mace was well cast with a lost wax method. The Andean cultures utilized clobbering technology for their weapons, as opposed to swords and knives used in battle by their ancient European counterparts. The star motif was an Inca design and quite effective as a weapon. This mace was from the North Coast of Peru where they had arsenical bronze as opposed to Tin bronze found in the Southern highlands of Peru and Bolivia. Similar 5-pointed bronze maces are illustrated in Copper of Ancient Peru pg 425. Original patina, and intact in most places. Mounted on a custom-made base.
Period: Peru, North Coast, c. AD 1350 - 1530
Media: Metal
Dimensions: Height: 4 1/2" x Width: 4 1/2"
$1,350
96120
Costa Rica, Costa Rican Green Stone Figural Celt
This figurative celt is fashioned from a beautiful deep green stone and has large ears and hands held to its chest. It would have been worn as an adornment as well as used as a shamanic amulet to ward of illness or bad spirits.
Period: Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, c. AD 100 - 900
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Height 2.1/2"
$550
95050a
Costa Rica, Costa Rican Jade Harpy Eagle Deity Amulet
The harpy eagle is one of the most feared birds in Costa Rica. This translucent, speckled jade stone eagle is carved to show the wings and beak on both sides. One side is slightly convex and the other slightly concave. There is a suspension hole by the neck.
Period: Costa Rica, Linea Vieja, Atlantic Watershed, c. 1 AD - 500
Media: Stone
Dimensions: Length 2 5/8" x Width: 3/4" Thickness 1/4"
$975
M3060
Peru, Pair of Proto Nazca Embroidered Borders with Duck Motif
Weaving technique: embroidery.
These colorful borders to a headpiece were woven with a continuous duck motif in alternating colors on a red ground. When held vertically, the images of ducks appear to be monkeys with faces turned forward, hands held up, and tails curving outward. The weavers used elemental plied wool embroidery, woven with colorful threads through a plain weave of undyed cotton ground fabric. Acquired in 1991 from a California collector prior to the 1980s. Unmounted.
Period: Peru, Proto-Nasca, South Coast, c. 300 - 100 BC
Media: Textile
Dimensions: Lenght: 40" x Width: 12 1/2" each
$2,000
91263
Peru, Paracas Colorful Rainbow Border Section with Waterfowl
This cross-looped, needle-knot border section is shaped like a rainbow. The rainbow is intended to resemble, and the waterfowl are the three-dimensional loops standing upright on the surface. Upon closer inspection one can see that these loops are in fact waterfowl who are bending their heads down, dipping their beaks into the surface, and drinking the water. It is unusual to see the yarn used in such a clever manner to create a 3-dimensional sculptural structure incorporating the animals in the design. Mounted on a neutral cream canvas with matching mat board backing, Ex. collection Ferdinand Anton, Germany, prior to 1980.
Peru, Paracas, Late Phase, South Coast, c. 200 BC - AD 100
Period: Peru, Paracas, Late Phase, South Coast, c. 200 BC - AD 100
Media: Textile
Dimensions: Border: W. 9 in. x H. 1 in.
Height of birds: 3/8"
Backing: W. 16 in. x H. 10 in.
$800
79144
Peru, Paracas Color Block Border Section with Flying Shamans
This Paracas Color Block border section features two flying shamans, both depicted in the same position but reversed (one is upside down) to enhance the perception that they are flying or floating. Each shaman is depicted with a different color palette of bold, contrasting colors including vivid reds, oranges, yellows, and teal, which is characteristic of the Color Block style.Ex. collection Ferdinand Anton, Germany, prior to 1980.
Peru, Paracas, Late Phase, South Coast, c. 200 BC - AD 100
Period: Peru, Paracas, Late Phase, South Coast, c. 200 BC - AD 100
Media: Textile
Dimensions: Border: W. 6 1/4 in. x H. 3 1/4 in. with fringe.
Frame: W. 20 in x H. 16 in.
$600
79143
Peru, Paracas Miniature Embroidered Fringe with 59 Killer Whales
Weaving technique: embroidery with looped fringe.
This small-scale fringe was a border to a miniature garment. The whales repeat in alternating colors in sets of sections of seven whales. There is a solid dark blue-black outer fringe in excellent condition, which is finished at both ends. Traditionally, young children in the Andes do this type of embroidery, as they are the only ones who can work with such small detail. Acquired in 1998 from a California collector prior to the 1980s. Both ends are finished to make a complete fringe. Unmounted.
Period: Peru, Paracas, South Coast, c. 100 BC - AD 100
Media: Textile
Dimensions: Length: 35” x Width: 3/16”
$1,900
T-19
Peru, Wari Wood Lime Container with a Feline on Top with Original Shell Inlays
A small wood lime container with its original top. A recumbent feline is carved on top in high relief,
with traces of its shell teeth and spots. The bottom has been disfigured.
Period: Peru, Wari, South Coast, c. AD 600 - 900
Media: Wood
Dimensions: Height: 2"
$1,250
94265a
