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THBMoche Copper Mask & Jar w/ Turquoise & Silver Necklace
Lot 91
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$2,000 - $3,000
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Bid Increments
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|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jan 21, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-01-21 10:00:00
2021-01-21 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic From Around The World
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-from-around-the-world-6316
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (347)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, northern Peru, Moche culture, ca. 300 to 500 CE. A remarkable set of three Moche artifacts; a fascinating copper burial mask, a turquoise and silver bead necklace, and a lovely copper effigy jar. The haunting vizard is square at the forehead, yet rounded at the chin, and displays a flat nose, a straight mouth and a pair of enormous concave eyes surrounded by two rings, likely representing lids and a brow. Two small drill holes on the sides of the forehead allow for luxurious ornaments to adorn the mysterious visage. Note how the eyes are not carved out, indicating that this mask was intended for the dead, rather than the living. Size of mask: 7.875" W x 8" H (20 cm x 20.3 cm); 11.125" H (28.3 cm) on included custom stand; Size of necklace: 18.25" L (46.4 cm); Size of largest bead: 0.375" in diameter (1 cm); Size of jar: 2.625" in diameter x 1.875" H (6.7 cm x 4.8 cm); metal quality: mask: 99% copper, 1.4% zirconium, jar: 99.5% copper, <1% silver, beads: 94% silver, 4.6% copper; weight of necklace: 32.1 grams
A gathering of ancient high quality silver (94%) and turquoise stone beads in discoid form strung on a modern strand with a barrel screw clasp is suspended at each side of the mask's forehead, wrapping around the sides of its cheeks and chin. Alternatively, the jar presents with a round base, bulbous body, a circular rim that hangs over a deep basin, and a petite, circular lid. Both copper examples present with a rich patina of russet and seafoam green hues. There are two pairs of tiny apertures along the rim of the jar allowing it to be suspended, while one additional drill hole is in the center of the lid. These pieces offer a glimpse into the mortuary rituals of a past culture; evocative of the ephemerality of human life and the everlasting importance of art.
Metal sheets needed to be heated and cooled, a process called annealing, to change the rigidity of the metal and make it pliable to shape. A special brazier and many workers would be needed to stoke the fire and hammer the sheet to the desired thickness, and such metalwork would be costly to commission. Masks for the lower society were comprised of wood, ceramic, or cloth, while those belonging to the most respected and powerful were made of copper, gold, and/or silver. These masks were for funerary purposes, to cover the faces of the deceased.
Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#159254A few pieces of copper (92% copper, 4% iron) on top of mask are likely the remains of a headdress. Small repair to nasal area with adhesive material visible on verso and petite chip to proper left periphery of cheek. All beads are ancient on modern strand with modern clasp. A few stone beads have some minor nicks and abrasions. Tiny chip to lid of jar. Otherwise, very nice with gorgeous green patina on copper pieces and lovely earthen deposits throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
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