Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 700 CE. A fascinating pair of large burial sandals, each presenting as a sheet of copper in the form of the sole of a shoe with a narrow, rounded heel that flares out to a broad, slanted toe. Boasting gorgeous layers of patina that range from hues of teal and viridian to russet, these flat sandals would not have been made for everyday wear, but instead intended for the tomb of a royal man or woman. Size of each (both about the same: 4.4" W x 9.6" H (11.2 cm x 24.4 cm); on custom stand: 12.75" W x 12.25" H (32.4 cm x 31.1 cm)

The Moche believed that the societal identities that gave prominence to individuals in life were maintained after death and, thus, adorned the tombs of deceased royals, priests, and priestesses with symbols of religion and power, as well as artifacts and costumes that allowed them to continue performing their ritual roles in the afterlife. While Moche people with intermediate social rank were buried with just a small leaf of metal in the mouth, royals were typically covered from head to toe in elaborate decorations of copper, gold, and silver - Moche kings have been found wearing gilt copper masks and copper sandals like these examples.

For the Moche, precious metal, like copper, was not a currency used to exchange goods, but rather a material used to display power and perform religious rituals - often one and the same activity. Metals were associated with the supernatural realm, thought to be created by the gods. Due to their value of metal, the Moche people were among the most skilled and innovative metalsmiths in the Americas.

The creation of these sandals was not an easy process in the ancient Andes. Metal sheets needed to be heated and cooled, a process called annealing, to change the rigidity of the metal and make it pliable to shape. A special brazier and many workers would be needed to stoke the fire and hammer the sheet to the desired thickness, and such metalwork would be costly to commission.

Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010

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#178237

Professionally repaired with some restoration of modern brass but done very well and difficult to discern. Expected weathering to surface as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with rich patina throughout. Fit with custom, museum-quality stand.