Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Moche to Chimu culture, ca. 700 to 1450 CE. A pair of tweezers hammered and shaped from thin sheets of tumbaga, a gold-silver and copper alloy. Each piece features a folded upper section, pierced for attachment, allowing them to be worn as personal ornaments as well as functional tools. The broad, teardrop-shaped bodies taper to fine gripping ends, demonstrating careful shaping and control of the metal. Size of largest: 1.5" L x 0.8" W (3.8 cm x 2 cm); smallest: 0.9" L x 0.4" W (2.3 cm x 1 cm); silver quality: 50.8% to 56.4%; gold quality: 36.9% to 44.2% (equivalent to 8K+ to 10K+); total combined weights: 4.8 grams

Provenance: private Colorado, USA Collection

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Item # 201904

  • Condition: Good. Intact and stable. Dark patina and toning, with some minor surface scratches.

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Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

May 15, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$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
$200,000 + $20,000