Pre-Columbian, South Coast Peru, Inca, ca. 1200 to 1532 CE. A wonderful cast-bronze ceremonial tumi, a curved, crescent-shaped blade topped by a long tubular handle with a finial decorative motif of a jaguar. The handle is embellished with bas relief wave motifs, and the jaguar is lying down with his long tail curled behind. Covered in stunning blue-green patina, this is a fabulous example from the ancient Inca! Size: 5.5" L x 5.25" W (14 cm x 13.3 cm); 6.125" H (15.6 cm) on included custom stand.

The tumi was sometimes used to sacrifice llamas to the sun god. The Paracas people, also from the Andes, used the tumi for human trepanation, thought to open the mind to religious enlightenment; it is unknown if the Inca conducted similar practices, but they may have done so. In modern Peru, a tumi on the wall is a symbol of good luck.

For a similar example and more information about tumi knives, please see the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website, accession numbers: 1987.394.411 and 64.228.242.

Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection, purchased on September 29, 2020; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-Economos Works of Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired prior to 1990

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#170466

Repair to head of animal finial, with very light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor abrasions and nicks to blade, handle, and animal, with light encrustations. Nice patina throughout.