Ceremonial tumi; Lambayeque Valley, northern coast of Peru, ca. 800–1000 CE

Ceremonial tumi; Lambayeque Valley, northern coast of Peru, ca. 800–1000 CE.
Copper.
It shows signs of restoration on the upper part of the blade, the neck, one of the wings, and a side section of the headdress.
Measurements: 34 x 12 cm.
Large ceremonial tumi made of copper sheet, belonging to the Lambayeque (or Sicán) tradition, one of the most prominent cultures of ancient pre-Columbian Peru. The upper part of the piece features a sculptural finial in the form of a bird deity, of a highly symbolic nature, represented with a human face that is schematized and stylized from a hollow disc.
The figure wears an elaborate headdress in the shape of a crescent moon, accompanied by circular earflaps, elements associated with divine or aristocratic status within Andean iconography. The body, with a bilateral and hollow structure, is completed with wings and a tail crafted from sheet metal, reinforcing its hybrid nature between the human, the animal, and the supernatural. At the bottom is the characteristic semicircular blade of the tumi, a ritual instrument associated with sacrifice ceremonies and offerings.
The tumis of the Lambayeque culture constitute one of the most unique examples of Andean metallurgy, closely linked to elite funerary and ritual contexts. The Sicán or Lambayeque culture developed between the 8th and 14th centuries and, although it initially occupied only the present-day territory of Lambayeque, it came to extend during its heyday, between the years 900 and 1100, across almost the entire present-day Peruvian coast. Its ceramic production is characterized by its subdued, often dark colors, such as black and gray, with a polished finish, although there are also softer hues like cream or orange.