Chimu Copper Rattle w/ Birds

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chimu, ca. 1100 to 1470 CE. A ceremonial cast copper rattle of cylindrical form, with one end ringed with flying birds, their wings and tails outspread, the heads raised to show relief eyes and large beaks. The body of the rattle is studded with raised loops, each of which has another copper loop linked through it with a bell shape at one end. The rattle noise is created by the movement of all of these parts. A huge variety of birds appears in ancient Andean artwork, often depicted in ways that both emphasized supernatural qualities they were believed to have but also showing that the artisans were familiar with what real birds of many species looked like. To the Chimu, birds signified prestige. They are never anthropomorphized, but instead appear in stylized, repeated, geometric patterns. Size: 1.1" W x 3.7" H (2.8 cm x 9.4 cm)

Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, New York, USA

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#148168 Dimensions: Condition Report: Intact and still functional, with a mottled and lightly encrusted patina, including shades of russet, white, and deep turquoise.