Six Large Chimu Gilt Copper Discs, Regalia Ornaments (Auction 2026-06-05, Lot 79)

$578.25

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chimu culture, ca. 800 to 1450 CE. A set of six large, hammered copper-alloy discs, each formed from thin sheet metal and originally polished to a bright, reflective surface, then gilded to enhance their luminosity. Every disc is pierced three times along the perimeter, allowing them to be sewn onto, textiles, garments, or integrated into elaborate jewelry – catching and amplifying light during ritual movement. Such ornaments conveyed status and affiliation, serving as powerful visual markers of wealth and social identity. Size: 3.25″ Diameter (8.3 cm); gold quality: 1% to 6%; silver quality: 1%

Provenance: private Lake Worth, Florida, USA collection, acquired via descent in April 1997; ex-private American collection in Cyprus, acquired between 1957 to 1969, brought to USA in 1969

Condition: Fair. Stable conditions with expected surface wear consistent with age and burial. Abrasions, bending, stable fissures on one, and edge irregularities. The gilt surfaces exhibit uneven surviving gilding, with areas of brighter gold tone interspersed with copper exposure and natural patination.