Pre-Columbian, Coastal Peru, Huari (Wari) or Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) culture, ca. 600 to 1000 CE. An incredible mummy head made of woven textiles and colorful feathers from jungle birds! The head was once a ceremonial funerary mask / covering for presumably a male and elite member of society. The striking visage is comprised of brown camelid wool- likely alpaca or llama, with a cotton plain weave layer secured on top, and protruding wooden nose - all of which is then covered in applied feathers of vibrant red, blue, white, black, yellow, orange, and green - likely from tropical parrots, such as macaws, imported from the rainforests. The headdress is stuffed with cotton fabric and then wrapped in a red plain weave cloth, a leather sling or tump line attached as a headband. This funerary piece was laid to rest as the head of a person of some importance or wealth - the feathers were a precious commodity, prized for their colors and iridescence that resembled gold and silver! Size: 11" L x 9" W x 11" H (27.9 cm x 22.9 cm x 27.9 cm); 14" H (35.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Burials discovered all along the arid coast of Peru indicate that the deceased were accompanied by offerings of ceramics, garments, featherwork, precious metals and wood. A mask or false head was ritualistically placed over the mummy bundle to give a face to the deceased. Due to the dry climate artifacts made of wood, feather, and textile -such as this stunning example - have been remarkably preserved!

Colorful feathers were prized materials in Andean cultures and used by the elite for clothing and ornaments. Avian motifs and the use of feathers were symbolic in Andean cultures, for birds were sacred animals that could fly between worlds and were messengers for the gods. These ancient cultures had a complex relationship with birds – especially the rainforest species - their stunning plumage was highly desirable and worth nearly the same as precious metals. It is possible that live, caged birds as well as their plucked feathers were imported from the lower altitudes to supply this demand. According to the 2018 article "When Feathers Were the Treasures of the Rainforest" by Christine Giuntini, published on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s website: "Neotropical ornithologists have identified some of the birds whose feathers were used in these creations. Generally the brightly colored feathers come from birds living in the rainforests at lower altitudes along the eastern slopes of the Andes and into the vast Amazon River basin. The distinctive size and shape of the iridescent blue-green and hair-like yellow feathers (see the first image in this post) on all the examples have been identified as from the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna). The orange-red feathers are often identified as being from the scarlet macaw (Ara macao), although other species are also possible. Green feathers can be harvested from many species of Amazon parrots. Black and white feathers are difficult to identify, for the obvious reason that many birds sport such plumage and, additionally, feather workers sometimes trimmed the feathers in order to sharpen the design, thus destroying the distinctive silhouette."

Provenance: private Superior, Colorado, USA collection, ex- MS collection San Diego, California, USA acquired before 1985 with appraisal from Stendahl Gallery in 1985.

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Losses to feathers around nose and chin strap of face, discoloration and staining to cloth and feathers - white cotton chin area is brown with age. Small tears and pulls to the red headdress fabric which are hidden in the folds. Slight odor to the head. The lower head area is stuffed with modern cloth to retain its shape and pinned to a modern brown cloth for mounting on the stand. Cloth is fragile and we recommend storing in a protective case to preserve the fabrics and feathers.