Bird head scepter - Lot 89

Lot n° 89
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6000 - 8000 EUR
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Result : 6 400EUR
Bird head scepter - Lot 89
Bird head scepter This scepter, called "Clava" because of its circular shape with an opening referring to a bird's beak, is emblematic of the works of the Mapuche culture in Chile. The eye is in relief, engraved with a pupil that is surrounded by a star. This finely engraved motif of latticework also emphasizes the rim of the eye. Serrated engravings delimit the beak and two bands decorate the base of the chin and forehead. The crescent and circle motifs have a celestial connotation, while the star evokes the sun and its life-giving rays. Two opposing and complementary natural elements. This emblem of power reserved for clan chiefs was a symbol of strength and power. The stylized bird would be linked to the mythical figure of the Pillán, the spirit of the founding ancestor of the lineage. Complementary in their iconography, these two sceptres are extremely rare. The most beautiful specimens are kept in the Chileno de Santiago Museum and the M.A.S. in Antwerp. Volcanic stone with brown patina Mapuche Culture, Chile 1200 - 1500 A.D. H.30 - W. 19.5 - Thickness 5 cm Provenance: - Ancient Australian collection since the 1960s. Bibliography for a similar object: - "Treasures of the New World", exhibition from September 15 to December 27, 1992, Musée Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Brussels, p. 435 n°469. A microanalysis test from the MSMAP laboratory will be given to the purchaser.
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