Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican/Lambayeque, ca. 10th to 11th century CE. A fine funerary mask made of copper with a woven textile adornment. The mask is of a rectangular shape, hammered from the verso to create the raised nose and a thin, impressed mouth. The eyes are long and narrow with staring pupils. The textile is woven from camelid fibers (llama or alpaca) that is dyed in hues of red, brown, and blue and affixed to both the verso and peripheries of the copper plate. This mask was made to adorn the body of a deceased member of the Sican society - gold was for lords, silver for noble women, and copper for wealthy commoners. Size: 8" L x 4.25" W (20.3 cm x 10.8 cm)

Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA

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#165457

Perforations to copper on cheeks and left corners. Losses and fraying to textile fabric and discoloration as expected with age. Heavy patina and softening of some finer details to copper.