Knife Item Number: Sf533 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A flaring blade with a slightly curved edge is topped by an ovoid head surmounted by two inverted step triangles leaving a rectangular hole above the head. The facial features of the head are simplified: two eyes and a horizontal line that may represent a beak beneath a brow line.
History Of Use
This may be a ceremonial blade as ones of similar shape are frequently shown in Moche ceramic depictions of human decapitation (Moser). The simple face with step triangles appears in an etched design on a blade from Vicus (Lumbreras). Similar knives have been excavated at the site of Vicus (Disselhoff).
Narrative
Vicus/Moche Style, contemporary with Moche 1 and 2; 0-200 C.E.
Iconographic Meaning
The face on the handle resembles depictions of owls in Vicus ceramics (Disselhoff).
Item History
What
- Name
- Knife
- Identification Number
- Sf533
- Type of Item
- knife
- Material
- copper metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast
- Overall
- height 0.9 cm, width 6.0 cm, depth 12.5 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- during 200
- 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
- 0711/0036