Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Sican / Lambayeque culture, ca. 10th to 11th century CE. A well-preserved wood dignitary or lord wearing a tumi or crescent-shaped headdress, inlaid with spondylus, nacre shells, and turquoise! These wooden figures are a rare glimpse into some of the lesser-known burial goods which were deposited with the deceased, perhaps to serve as guardians. The citrine shards of Spondylus served as sacred offerings to Pachamama, the earth/time mother, a version of Mother Nature, and this shell held numerous symbolic meanings including fertility and elite social status. At nearly a thousand years old, this wooden figure is truly remarkable, the dry climate of the Peruvian coastal regions enabled the preservation of wood and other organic materials that we rarely see in other Pre-Columbian cultures! Size of figure: 5" L x 2.5" W (12.7 cm x 6.4 cm); case: 8.25" L x 6.25" W (21 cm x 15.9 cm)

A similar example lent from the Museo Larco collection of Lima, Peru was featured in the "Gold and the Incas Lost Worlds of Peru" exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia (2013). According to the curators, "Debate continues about the purpose these figures served in burial rituals and the afterlife. Although they were originally thought to have been worshipped as idols, more recent research suggests that they performed a more narrative function and were positioned in graves to act out sacred rituals. This is supported by the variations in gender and physical positions."

The Sican, which succeeded the Moche culture, is also known as the Lambayeque culture, named for the region in Peru. Interestingly, some archeologists and anthropologists still dispute whether the two were distinct cultures. Most of what we know about Sican comes from a large area called the Batan Grande Archaeological Complex, a huge ceremonial and cemetery site for a little-understood ancient civilization. With pyramids rising over 40 meters high and thousands of tombs, the area represents a lengthy period of occupation.

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#174811

Leg reattached. Striations and fissures throughout. Cavities, abrasion, and surface weathering commensurate with age and exposure. Losses and chipping to shell inlays, but retains a large portion of inlays. Displayed in modern Riker case.