Pre-Columbian, Peru (North Coast), Moche Culture, ca. 100 to 700 CE. A long, narrow copper axe blade with a flared half-circle at the bottom; the edges are very slightly sharpened, but this object almost certainly served a votive function and was not used as a weapon or tool. At the top of the blade is an elaborate figure of a lord who holds a large staff capped with a ceremonial mace head. He wears a huge lunate headdress, armor made from applied shell, and a large applied copper cape. Size: 1.25" W x 6.6" H (3.2 cm x 16.8 cm); 7.45" H (18.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Tumis were sometimes used to sacrifice llamas to the sun god. The Paracas people, also from the Andes, used the tumi for trepanation, which was thought to open up the soul to religious enlightenment; it is unknown if the Moche did similar, but they may have. In modern Peru, a tumi on the wall is a symbol of good luck.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection

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#127600

Smooth blue-green patina over surface. Tiny losses to shell armor. Very small chips from blade.