Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican / Lambayeque, ca. 800 to 1000 CE. A gorgeous 14K+ gold crown decorated with 11 stylized bird ornaments and danglers. The crown is formed from a band of gold sheet hammered to the desired thickness and then pierced along the length with two rows of perforations, perhaps for attaching to the crown to a cloth lining or larger headdress of the lord or king. The dangling birds are double-headed, with each head looking in the opposite direction, with embossed eyes. Two birds have additional repousse stippling across their body. Ancient Andean cultures perfected sophisticated metallurgical techniques in order to create gold and silver ornaments which were intended for the living or for the deceased to wear. This is a remarkable example replete with avian symbolism! Size: 8" Diameter x 1.3" W (20.3 cm x 3.3 cm); 10.5" H (26.7 cm) on included custom stand; quality of gold: 53% (equivalent to 12K+)

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Eugene Lions collection, Geneve, Switzerland, collected 1960-2000

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 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.

#164505

Expected surface wear and indentations, though relatively minor. Creasing to a few bird danglers and minute nicks and tears. Otherwise excellent. Mounted on a custom stand and cannot be accurately weighed.