Knife

Item number Sf513 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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Description

A flaring blade with an open work handle of step triangle designs. Finial decoration consists of three balls, each with three indented holes (meant to represent facial features ?) on either side of a central loop. Incised design on the blade of a triangular headed serpent with ears, whiskers and a splayed body. Small incised bird near the serpent mouth.

Iconographic Meaning

The heads on the finial have the appearance of skulls with the recessed eye sockets and open mouths. The incised serpent probably exhibits feline characteristics in the ears and whiskers.

Narrative

Early Moche (Vicus) style, Early Intermediate, 0-200. The incised serpent design with the halo of small dashes relates to the Vicus style on other metal objects (Lumbreras). The central loop suggests the blade was suspended, perhaps around the neck by a lanyard, like depictions on Moche ceramics.