Lot 2
Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 200 to 600 CE. A powerful relic of Moche funerary ceremony, this copper mask presents a human face rendered with striking immediacy, its hammered surface carrying centuries of mineral bloom in shades of blue-green. The form is boldly modeled: a prominent triangular nose, wide staring eyes set with pale shell pupils, and a sweeping crescent mouth that curves across the lower half of the face. Rows of perforations along the forehead once anchored textiles or additional adornments, completing a regalia designed to accompany a high-ranking individual into the afterlife. The mask retains one copper earspool, still clinging to the left side with textured edges and battered dignity. Below the chin hangs a remarkable necklace composed of six large copper owl-head beads, each one modeled with forward-facing eyes and a hooked beak. These avian elements echo the Moche fascination with predators, night creatures, and the ability to see beyond the limits of ordinary vision. Size: 9.8" W x 8.6" H (24.9 cm x 21.8 cm)
Owls appear frequently in Moche iconography as symbols of protection, sorcery, and power over liminal spaces, making their presence here especially charged.
Funerary masks such as this were deeply embedded in Moche ritual practice. They were not worn in life but crafted specifically for burial, transforming the deceased into an ancestral being and equipping them with spiritual tools for the journey beyond. The shimmering copper surface, once polished to a bright red-gold tone, would have reflected torchlight within the tomb, animating the mask with flickers of fire and shadow. Time has softened its edges and coated it with a rich patina, yet the mask remains a vivid testament to Moche beliefs surrounding death, transformation, and sacred identity. Its expressive features, shell pupils, and pendant owl heads converge in a single, commanding presence that bridges the human world and the supernatural one it was meant to face.
Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000
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#199357
- Condition: Very fragile. Missing one earspool. Nasal ornament has been repaired and glued to face. Some losses to top of nasal ornament and some tearing and losses to proper left ear and earspool. Chipping, abrasions, and bending in areas, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with rich patina.
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