Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Vicus culture, ca. 1250 to 100 BCE. A remarkable ritualistic mace head cast from copper, sculpted in the form of a double owl head. Each side features a heart-shaped face with dense, hooked beaks capable of easily fracturing skulls in combat. A large socket opening runs vertically through the center, allowing it to be mounted onto a wooden handle, transforming it into both a deadly weapon and a prestigious ceremonial club. In South American iconography, owls are frequently associated with the underworld, death, and shamanism - one of the few nocturnal predators, their haunting calls were often seen as omens of death or manifestations of spirits. This rare piece exemplifies both the artistry and symbolic power of Vicus metallurgy. Size: 3.5" L x 2.5" H (8.9 cm x 6.4 cm)
Compare to a similar example in the Museo Larco (Larco Museum), catalog number ML100709.
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000
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#192495
Condition
Surface has been professionally cleaned to prevent further oxidation. Pitting and abrasions as shown, but intact and excellent.