Pre-Columbian, Peru (North Coast), Moche Culture, ca. 100 to 700 CE. A dazzling gold nose ornament of sizable form boasting an elegant, smooth body. Hammered from a sheet of over 20 karat gold, the adornment presents a thick, crescent-shaped body, almost presenting a full oval save for the 2 petite cylinders at the upper center allowing it to be hooked to the nostrils. Imagine what this would have looked like when worn, its shiny surface shimmering in the sunlight! Size: 3.3" W x 2.5" H (8.4 cm x 6.4 cm); 3.1" H (7.9 cm) on included custom stand; quality of gold: 85.19% (equivalent to over 20 karats); weight: 12.4 grams

The crescent form of this object mirrors that of many known Moche gold items - headdresses and pectorals also had the crescent form, and they derive much of their impressiveness from the wide reflective surface they present to the viewer. This object probably belonged to a male, because in ancient Peru, gold seems to have been reserved for elite men, while silver was reserved for elite women.

Provenance: private West Hollywood, California, USA collection; ex-private Leeds, Alabama, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA, August 27, 2018, lot 323; ex-private Hawaii, USA collection

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#179170

Some light bending and indentations, but overall form is still clear. Otherwise, intact and excellent with light patina.