Pair of ear ornaments. A turquoise haloed deity... Lot 18

Pair of ear ornaments. A turquoise haloed deity forms a central medallion. Each of the medallions is set in an openwork and cut-out plate representing two animals half monkey half jaguar. Four lightning-flash-shaped pendants hang from the end of which are suspended masks or trophy heads held by gold clasps. These beautiful ornaments were to be worn by a particularly influential and powerful warrior leader or priest. Gold, turquoise, silver and bronze. Accidents and losses Mochica Ancient, Peru, 100 BC to 200 AD H: 13 cm Bibliography: The openwork plates depicting an animal on either side of the central medallion are stylistically very similar to the frontal ornament in the Dora and Paul Janssen collection (reproduced on p. 252 of the work referenced below). It is likely that these ear ornaments formed a complete adornment with this tiara. Geneviève LE FORT, Traces des Amériques, Hommage aux cultures précolombiennes, Collection Dora et Paul Janssen, exhibition at the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Genève, 27 October 2005 - 23 April 2006, Fonds Mercato, Brussels, Cinq Continents Editions, Milan, 2005, p. 252 Provenance: Gaïa, Paris, sale of 4 December 2007, lot n°366 of the catalogue.