Chimú Ceremonial Copper Alloy Knife Tumi africanbronzes au/objects/5827/papua-new-guinea-daggercassowary-tibiotarsus)

au/objects/5827/papua-new-guinea-daggercassowary-tibiotarsus)

is a remarkable testament to the sophistication of Bactrian artisans

Fragment as shown

A superb small gourd-shaped stoneware bottle with sloping shoulders

harmonizing the jug's form with its practical use

Chimú Ceremonial Copper Alloy Knife Tumi africanbronzes au/objects/5827/papua-new-guinea-daggercassowary-tibiotarsus)Pre Columbian Era, Chim Culture, c. 800 1470 AD, Moche Valley, Trujillo, Peru This exceptional and large Chim sacrificial tumi, crafted from thin arsenical copper, is a striking example of the ceremonial blades used in ancient Andean rituals. Featuring a wide trapezoidal shaft and an elegant crescent shaped cutting edge, this finely made knife would have been placed in a mummy bundle as a votive offering, ensuring its owner's preparedness for the