Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chavin, ca. 900 to 200 BCE. A lunate, hammered flat copper knife blade surmounted by a thick flat handle incised on one side with original standing anthropomorphic figures - probably representing some elite figure in society, a god, or a combination of the two. See the condition report for information about the other side of the blade. The Paracas people, also from Peru, used the tumi for trepanation; it is unknown if the Chavin did similar, but quite possible. In modern Peru, a tumi on the wall is a symbol of good luck. Size: 5.5" W x 8.1" H (14 cm x 20.6 cm); 9.25" H (23.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private lifetime collection of Dr. Saul Tuttman and Dr. Gregory Siskind, New York, New York, USA

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#137534

The human figures inscribed on one side are original, however, the zoomorphic figures inscribed on the other side is recent - the figures were added at a later date along with some blue pigment. Some of the patina has been scraped away. Small loss from one corner of the tumi.