Pre-Columbian, north coast of Peru, Sican/Lambayeque culture, ca. 750 to 1370 CE. A hammered silver maskette of a face with a huge nose and wide eyes. The figure wears a variety of earrings including giant ear spools and what look like small ones all the way down the length of the ear. Metalwork was a Lambayeque specialty, much of it made at the site of Batan Grande, with a tradition that lasted roughly 600 years. Based on burials, we know that only the most elite members of society had access to metal objects (the classes below them had ceramics designed to look like metal objects), but we also know that these members of society were very wealthy and that the demands for metal objects like this silver maskette were incredibly high for the small number of people consuming them. This society flaunted its wealth and was prosperous for a long period of time. Comes with custom stand. Size: 3.1" W x 2.25" H (7.9 cm x 5.7 cm)

Provenance: Ex-New England and Washington D.C. collections

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#117909

Slight tearing to silver on bottom of chin and one earring