Lot 168A
Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican / Lambayeque culture, ca. 1000 to 1250 CE. A rare and finely executed repousse gold applique of 68.4% purity (approx. 16.4 karats), depicting a stylized anthropomorphic figure, likely a noble. Hammered in thin sheet and worked in relief, the figure presents a large head surmounted by an elaborate headdress, with pronounced circular earspools marking elite status. A beaded collar necklace emphasizes his high rank. The rectangular body is rendered with bent arms and clasped hands set against the chest, just above a wide belt ornamented with a zigzag motif. Below, the thick legs end in slightly protruding feet, lending the figure a grounded presence. The expressive visage shows large rounded eyes, a prominent nose, and a solemn mouth, imbuing the image with a sense of authority and ritual gravitas. Size: 2" L x 1.1" W (5.1 cm x 2.8 cm); gold quality: 68.4% (16.4 karats); weight: 4.4 grams
Sican goldworkers were famed for their mastery of metallurgy and their ability to infuse ceremonial objects with symbolic weight. Figures such as this were not only ornamental but also served as emblems of elite identity and ritual power, often affixed to textiles, headdresses, or wooden regalia to gleam in ceremonial light. This applique, with its rich details of adornment - earspools, necklace, headdress, and belt - conveys the emblematic attributes of a Sican noble, reinforcing his role as both earthly leader and participant in divine order.
Cf. Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1967-29-260.
Provenance: private Lake Worth, Florida, USA collection, acquired via descent in April 1997; ex-private American collection in Cyprus, acquired between 1957 to 1969, brought to USA in 1969
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#196544
- Condition: Two small tears to headdress with minor loss. Bending and indentations as shown. Liberal remaining detail.
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