Knife Item Number: Sf532 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A crescent shaped blade with a handle in the shape of a long-beaked shore bird with a fish in its mouth. The blade doubles as the body of the bird and a pair of feet are attached to inner curve side of the blade.
Iconographic Meaning
The fish held in the long beak indicates this is a species of shore bird. Maritime themes were particularly frequent during the Chimu Period (Moseley).
Narrative
Chimu style, Late Intermediate Period; 1000-1400 C.E. This is a rather unusual shape for a knife with the handle set horizontally to the blade instead of vertically.
Item History
What
- Name
- Knife
- Identification Number
- Sf532
- Type of Item
- knife
- Material
- copper metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast and hammered
- Overall
- height 3.4 cm, width 2.3 cm, depth 13.7 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- between 1000 and 1400
- Collection Date
- between 1949 and 1966
- Ownership Date
- before May 4, 1981
- Acquisition Date
- on May 4, 1981
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 0711/0035