Rare Moche Silver and Gold Labrets

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Clearance Pre-Columbian, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Sep 23, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-09-23 12:00:00 2021-09-23 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Clearance Pre-Columbian, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/clearance-pre-columbian-asian-ethnographic-7508
Consignor says sell! All lots priced to sell, with reserves now up to 75% off original starting prices. No hidden reserves. All lots will sell to the highest bidder. If you love Pre-Columbian, Asian or Ethnographic art this is one auction you don't want to miss. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  **Originally Listed At $700**
  
  Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 BCE to 400 CE. An opulent set of four labret plugs comprised of gold and silver. All four column-like labrets have cylindrical bodies and are adorned with copper ornaments that have developed gorgeous seafoam green and russet patina. The first two labrets present with flat rectangular ornaments, though the second also has a small ring of copper spheres, and bottom sections comprised of 12 to 14 karat gold. The third has a thicker rectangular copper ornament with a band of orbs, slightly larger than the second labret's spheres, and a lower piece comprised of 11 to 12 karat gold. The most lustrous of the labrets has an ornament with a loop of balls and a square piece of 9 karat gold and a bottom piece of 19 to 20 karat gold. Rare examples of ancient Moche facial ornaments! Size: 5.25" L x 4.125" W (13.3 cm x 10.5 cm); 3.75" H (9.5 cm) on included custom stand. Size of Largest: 0.25" L x 1.75" H (0.6 cm x 4.4 cm) Weight, from left to right: 1.2 g, 2.9 g, 5.6 g, 4.3 g.
  
  Our XRF revealed the following composition for each labret, from left to right: First: Top: 90% Copper, 8% Silver, 1% Gold - Bottom: 56% Gold, 41% Silver, 2% Copper Second: Top: 69% Copper, 30% Silver - Bottom: 52% Gold, 45% Silver, 2% Copper Third: 81% Copper, 18% Gold - Bottom: 49% Gold, 46% Silver Fourth: 45% Copper, 37% Gold, 16% Silver - Bottom: 81% Gold, 17% Silver
  
  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.
  
  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 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.
  
  #159384

  Condition

  Intact and excellent. Precious metal elements have developed a warm age patina. Copper elements have developed a lovely green and russet 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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