**Originally Listed At $800**

Pre-Columbian, Central Coast Peru, Chimu, ca. 1100 to 1470 CE. A hand-carved wooden post used on a litter. The slender rectangular body has a narrow tip, 6 square insertion cavities, and an hourglass-shaped platform atop which stands a highly-stylized anthropomorphic figure. The figure boasts intricate incised decorations including a segmented necklace, stepped patterns along the obverse and reverse, a "V" on the verso of the lengthy tunic, as well as concentric triangles and zigzagging motifs along the square headdress. Traces of powdery red cinnabar are visible along the front and back of the figural finial which imbue it with a colorful presentation along with the lustrous brown patina. Size: 1.5" W x 30.1" H (3.8 cm x 76.5 cm); 31.25" H (79.4 cm) on included custom stand.

In the Chimu and earlier Chancay cultures, important personages were carried on litters when they were both alive and dead - mummies were often brought out on litters for important rituals or ceremonies. Some funerary pottery shows important personages on litters, being carried by four pallbearers.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany

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#144575

Minor abrasions to lower tip, body, and figural finial, a few stable hairline fissures, with fading to cinnabar pigmentation, and light softening to some incised details, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and fine brown patina throughout. Nice traces of original cinnabar pigmentation on figure. Old inventory label on bottom of verso.