Pre-Columbian, Sican - Chimu Culture, North Coast Peru, ca 800-1000 CE. Crafted from high karat sheet gold, drinking vessel features face of the god Naylamp, hair on reverse beautifully done in repousse and the God is wearing a gold disk crown. 59.8 gram weight. 6 1/2 inches tall.
Interesting note about Pre-Columbian Gold... Alloy containing gold, silver, copper, etc was melted and then the copper etc etched away with a urine or plant acid so only the gold remained, which was then burnished. This technique was invented by the Pre-Columbian people, as they could not refine gold too well / separate one metal from the next.....only when they found gold nuggets in rivers was the gold 90% pure."
Provenance: Ex-Ian Arundel, proprietor of "The Curiosity Shop" on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, CA in the early 1950-60's. His shop was the meeting place of all Famous Collectors in those years like the Arnebergs, Vincent Price, Proctor Stafford, John Wayne. Mr Arundel was a contributor of many exhibits at the Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA) in the 1950s/60s, Ex- Splenders of the World Gallery, Santa Fe and Hawaii.

Minor wrinkles as common with these vessels, over all excellent and rare.