Material : wood
Origin : North coast of Peru
Culture : CHIMU
Era : 900 / 1460 AD

Condition : cracks

Dimensions : H = 22 cm (8,58 in), L = 11 cm (4,29 in)

Price : 1200 € / 1800 $

 

Beautiful and rare box. Because of climatic condition, this box complete with his lid is very rare. It is still unknown what these box were used to: maybe it could have been to contain weaving material. The decoration relate to two cultural traditions: Lambayeque/Sican and Chimu. The first one is illustrated by a human figure called "Lord of Sican". He's represented full face, with raised arms, He has a important semi-circular hat, maybe a crown. His eyes are elongated. There are others human figures with globular eyes and raised arms. The Chimu tradition is illustrated by a decoration in panels, with waves's patterns. Similar décoration can be seen on the exterior walls of the Huaca el Dragon, in ChanChan.

 

Bibliography
A. M. Hoyle, Chimor, le royaume du désert, fig. 199, p. 172, "Perou. L'Art de Chavin aux Incas", Paris, 2006 / S. Purini, "La sculpture en bois dans l'Ancien Pérou. Wood sculpture in Ancient Peru, fig. 27