A Chimu Mirror Holder with Two Facing Llamas...

Description

A Chimu Mirror Holder with Two Facing Llamas
Peru, Late Intermediate Period - Late Horizon, c. 1500-1560 AD

A skillful carving from an attractive reddish brown hardwood, finely finished, a red pigment (probably cinnabar) remains in some of the incisions. One side has a large oval concavity that would have held a piece of iron pyrite as the mirror. This has a circular frame with snarling jaguars. The other side is flat with a medallion showing a jaguar grasping a severed human head in its front and back paws. This has a circular frame of birds. At top are two facing llamas, and at the end of the handle is a feline head with an open mouth. All in all a beautiful composition. Such mirrors were used throughout the Americas mainly for divination. In excellent condition, a small, naturally occurring knot on one of the encircling jaguars. With a metal stand.

Provenance:
A Private Collection, New York, NY, purchased in 1993
Martin and Ullman Artweave Textile Gallery, New York, NY

Height: 9 ½ inches

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