Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 300 CE. Truly a museum quality pair - these sizeable 14K gold ear ornaments depict matching portrait visages of a Mochica Lord, skillfully delineated in repousse with inlaid turquoise eyes and lapiz lazuli pupils, as well as trapezoidal gold earrings hanging from their ears. In addition, an impressive number (10 to be exact) of circular gold danglers are attached to the flat circular 'headdress' surrounding each face. During the mid-twentieth century, archaeologists labeled the time when the Moche came to power as the “Mastercraftsman Period” due to this culture's striking technological innovations in the arts. Indeed Moche artists are known for their fine metalwork as demonstrated by these examples of wearable art. Total Weight: 55.4 grams. Size: 2.25" W (5.7 cm) Size: each earring measures 2.25" in diameter (5.7 cm); 3.875" H (9.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Of course, the Moche are also admired for their ceramic effigy vessels. In fact the Moche may be the only ancient culture of the Americas that produced true portrait vessels. Scholars have actually been able to follow the progression of age and rank of several individuals portrayed in Moche pottery. Perhaps this talent for naturalistic portraiture was employed in the creation of these ear ornaments. Just who were they meant to depict? The wearer? His ancestor? A revered lord or warrior? We may never know; however, regardless of the subject, it is clear that the individual was one of exceptional status, as the artist adorned him in a manner that is opulent and highly symbolic!

It should be said that any goldwork from the Moche is exceedingly rare, as their treasures were targeted by plunderers during Colonial times. Heidi King of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York offers the following explanation in "The Art of Precolumbian Gold": "The Mochica or Moche as they are also known, built their capital in the dry, coastal valley of Moche, where the main construction was the Huaca del Sol, the so-called Pyramid of the Sun, the largest adobe structure built in Pre-Columbian South America. The great pyramid, made of over 143 million adobe bricks, was clearly visible and easily accessible during Colonial times, and it received extraordinary attentions from early treasure hunters (Bray this volume). As a result of such attentions, little of the wealth in precious metals that the Moche peoples are believed to have possessed remains in its ancient form today. Those works that do remain are all the more important because of their rarity." (The Art of Precolumbian Gold: The Jan Mitchell Collection" edited by Julie Jones. Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1985, p. 212)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex Eugene Lions, Geneve, Switzerland

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#131902

Double perforations on the foreheads of each and below their chins, perhaps for former attachments. Normal surface wear, slight dents, and tarnish/oxidation, but overally very good. Turquoise and lapis inlays are intact.