Early Moche Copper Tumi w/ 2 Seated Figures

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It's a Small World | Diminutive Artifacts

By Artemis Gallery

Nov 11, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-11-11 12:00:00 2021-11-11 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : It's a Small World | Diminutive Artifacts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/its-a-small-world-diminutive-artifacts-7836
Join us for a very special auction featuring art & artifacts from East to West, North to South, and everywhere in between - with one small thing in common - size! Everything in this auction is approximately 6 inches or less - perfect for that last bit of shelf space in your curio cabinet! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 400 CE. A high-quality copper - 99.6% - tumi ritual knife presenting a lengthy, tubular neck and a flat, flared blade surmounted by a pair of seated figures - a male and a female - facing one another. Both sitting cross legged, the ancient figures present large heads with inlaid stone eyes, sharp noses, and prominent ears. The male is taller and displays a bald head while the female wears a flat-topped headdress, indicating she may be of the noble class. They hold between them a large spondylus shell and another small object as part of a fertility ritual. Layers of rich seafoam green patina coat the surface of this wonderful example. Size: 1.3" W x 6.6" H (3.3 cm x 16.8 cm); 7.3" H (18.5 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The Moche people of northern Peru (first to seventh century) were among the first to use copper, often with the addition of arsenic to harden the metal and improve the quality of the cast. Moche metalworkers hammered most of their precious metals - gold and silver - into objects of sheet metal, but many works in copper were cast by the lost-wax technique."
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ian Arundel collection, California, USA, the Old Curiosity Cabinet, Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, California, USA, collected 1950 to 1970
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #165668

  Condition

  Intact and excellent with gorgeous patina.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

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