CHANCAY, Peru, 1100 to 1400 AD - Lot 111

CHANCAY, Peru, 1100 to 1400 AD Cult head featuring the face of a lord with stylized features and a timeless expression, his nose symbolically evoking a bird's beak. Wood, weathered patina. (Consolidated crack on the edge of the face, small lack on the bridge of the nose, a few old chips that do not affect the reading of the work). 77 x 27 cm Provenance: Former Ralf Kotalla collection, Stuttgart, Germany, established 1970/80. Origine Auction, Paris, October 29, 2016, reproduced at number 86 in the catalog. In the Chancay culture, cult heads like this one testify to the central role of ritual objects in the magic-religious relationship between man and divine forces. The stylized bird's beak symbolizes the spiritual intermediary, birds being perceived as mediators between the earthly and the divine, capable of carrying human prayers to the gods. The Chancay civilization, located on Peru's central coast, is renowned for its distinctive art, blending coastal and Andean influences. They developed a complex artistic tradition, including wood carving, geometrically patterned textiles and polychrome ceramics. These creations, often ritualistic, reflect a society organized around religious and political elites, where rituals celebrated fertility. Expert: Serge REYNES