Moche Gilded Copper Headdress - Double Headed Owl

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Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 3, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-12-03 10:00:00 2020-12-03 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-6119
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Peru (North Coast), Moche Culture, ca. 400 to 800 CE. An incredible copper headdress in the form of a bird with two dangling, hollow owl head pendants serving as eyes. The headdress is made of very thin sheet copper, hammered and cut so that it appears to be standing with its wings spread, with remarkable "feathered" wings. The square-shaped head has two almost insect-like proboscises. Two extended claws hang from the bottom of the body, as does a broad, triangular tail feather. A heart-shaped projection rises between the wings, forming the raised body of the animal. Above this are the two owl head pendants, which are fully three-dimensional, with deepset eyes, long beaks that bisect their faces, and deeply furrowed brows. They are attached to the body via two small rods. The surface of the body is decorated with dozens of small copper discs atttached by copper loops that give the impression of a heavily feathered texture. The remains of gilding are still visible in many places on the head. Size: 17" W x .75" H (43.2 cm x 1.9 cm); 7.5" H (19 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  We know that the Moche wore headdresses like this in the grave; they may also have worn them in life. The use of copper suggests that this belonged to a nobleman or woman; gold and silver were reserved for royalty. The gilding shows a desire to emulate the highest members of society. For the Moche, precious metal was not a currency used to exchange goods, but rather a material used to display power and perform religious rituals - often one and the same activity. Metals were associated with the supernatural realm, thought to be created by the gods. The placement of the owls on this piece - covering the area where the eyes would be - suggests a shamanic incarnation of the animal - perhaps the face is a shaman who is in a trance stance as an owl. To the Moche, the owl sacrificed war captives, creating trophy heads.
  
  Provenance: private California, USA Collection, purchased in the 1990s; ex-Harmer-Rooke Gallery, New York, New York, USA
  
  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.
  
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  #135142

  Condition

  Top gilded crown section ancient, possibly not original to this piece. Piece is extremely fragile. One wing has been repaired, although repair is unobtrusive. Mottled pale green and reddish-brown patina over the surface. Many of the dangling copper discs remain, although some are clearly lost. Part of one proboscis is also lost.
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