Pre-Columbian, Northern Peru, Vicus culture, 200 BCE to 600 CE. Two flat applique ornaments made of tumbaga, an alloy of gold and silver, and hammered into their decorative shapes. These were made to be sewn onto tunics or other textiles, as we know from finding intact examples in tombs. That is why they have small holes punctured through them. One is a round design with an intricate stamped pattern around a low knob; the design is highly abstract but may show fish - open to your interpretation! The other is rounded with twin arms jutting from one side, with a more simple decoration that looks like the face of an owl. Ornaments like this would have been reserved for the most elite members of Vicus society; this tradition of ornamenting clothing with hammered flat appliques of precious metals continued through the Inca period. Size of each: 3.2" W x 3.75" H (8.1 cm x 9.5 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Private Ventura County, CA collection

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#118325

Both have losses as shown