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THBMoche Gold Nose Ring - Jaguar w/ Fangs
Lot 86
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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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Feb 11, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-02-11 12:00:00
2021-02-11 12:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Animals in Art | Antiquity to Present Day
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/animals-in-art-antiquity-to-present-day-6391
From beloved pets to dedicated servants and vital livestock to symbolic imagery from many religions, animals frequently show up in the art of all cultures, ancient times to the present. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
From beloved pets to dedicated servants and vital livestock to symbolic imagery from many religions, animals frequently show up in the art of all cultures, ancient times to the present. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (163)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 400 CE. A hammered 62.9% gold (equiavalent to over 15 karats) sheet nose ring in the form of a crescent presenting an expressive feline visage or mask and a 'beaded' border delineated in repousse. The wild feline is likely a jaguar with almond-shaped eyes, a broad nose, a fang-filled mouth, and alert ears. The jaguar symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world. Warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World. Weight: 1.4 grams; Size: 1.625" W x 1.25" H (4.1 cm x 3.2 cm); 2.3" H (5.8 cm) on included custom stand; gold quality: 62.9% (equavalent to 15K+)
The principal Moche god wears a headdress adorned with a jaguar head and paws, and important mortals donned similar headdresses. A nocturnal animal, the jaguar sleeps in caves and dark places and creeps quietly in the forest, evoking great mystery. Oddly enough, few Moche artists would have actually seen jaguars as they are not indigenous to the coast. Jaguars prefer moist forest conditions. However, scholars believe that some cubs were transported over the mountains for Moche rituals, and it is also possible that some jaguars wandered down the coast.
The crescent form of this object mirrors that of many known Moche gold items such as headdresses and pectorals, all of which likely impressed viewers of the ancient world with their reflective quality and rich hues. Beyond the purely aesthetic, this shape was also probably associated with beliefs about the moon. We know that among the later Inca, Si, the moon goddess, was thought to be more powerful than the sun, because she could be seen both at night and during the day. Interestingly, this object likely belonged to a male, because, according to various scholars, gold was reserved for elite men, while silver was reserved for elite women in ancient Peru.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Eugene Lions collection, Geneve, Switzerland, collected 1960 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.
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#161538Slight bending to overall form of body and upper prongs, otherwise intact and excellent. Great luster throughout. Old inventory label on verso.Condition
- Shipping Info
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