Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 400 CE. A copper tumi ritual knife presenting a lengthy, trapezoidal body and a rounded blade surmounted by the figure of a warrior seated on one knee. Holding a shield and a war club, the petite figure is heavily adorned with a broad collar, a spotted loin cloth, two sizable earspools, a pair of 80% gold (equivalent to greater than 18 karat) nose adornments, and a hemispherical headdress with an ovoid embellishment on its front and a cup-like decoration on its verso. His ancient visage displays coffee-bean shaped eyes, a bulbous nose, and an incised smile, all framed by a shoulder-length coiffure. Note the carefully formed wrinkles across his face, evident of the artist's close attention to detail. Precious metal quality: 80% gold, 20% silver - equivalent to 18K+; Size: 2.25" W x 7.125" H (5.7 cm x 18.1 cm); 8.625" H (21.9 cm) on included custom stand.

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The Moche people of northern Peru (first–seventh century) were among the first to use copper, often with the addition of arsenic to harden the metal and improve the quality of the cast. Moche metalworkers hammered most of their precious metals—gold and silver—into objects of sheet metal, but many works in copper were cast by the lost-wax technique."

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Craig collection, Santa Barbara, California, USA, acquired in 2004

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#162870

Some light scratches and a few miniscule indentations to body. Otherwise, intact and excellent with beautiful russet patina and earthen deposits.