An Important Pair of Moche Ear Spools... (Total: 2 )

Description

An Important Pair of Moche Ear Spools
Peru, Early Intermediate - Middle Horizon: 500 - 800 AD

Phenomenal Early Moche workmanship in gold alloy. Each is an extraordinary composition of the "Crested Moon Animal" confronting a double-headed serpent that coils around it. The spools are made from two sheets of copper-gold-silver alloy: one for the backing and another sheet that was cut and then hammered from the back and scored from the front to produce the startling imagery in amazing detail. The cut out medallions were then soldered onto the edges of the raised perimeter of the backing. Each animal has four delicate gold discs dangling from its side. When worn, these would have bounced light across the bodies of the animal with a brilliant effect. Because they are made from sheet gold and the tubular plugs are hollow, they are surprisingly light in weight. The eyes of the animal are chrysocolla, a bright blue stone often used by the Moche for inlay; however, these may be modern additions. In excellent condition. Custom acrylic stands.

Provenance:
A Private Collection, New York, NY, acquired in 1994
Merrin Gallery, New York, NY

Exhibited:
Weaving and the Social World: 3,000 Years of Ancient Andean Textiles, Yale University Art Gallery, May 20, 2016 - September 18, 2016.

Diameters: 2 ¼ inches each



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