Moche Copper Alloy Bell

Pre-Columbian Era, Moche Culture, Moche Phase II–IV, c. 200–600 AD, Northern Peru 

An exceptional and finely crafted small-sized copper alloy bell, featuring a distinctive clam-like shape, formed by folding a thin sheet of copper at the center. The bell still emits a lovely jingling sound, a rare and desirable feature for collectors. Retains its original string, further enhancing its authenticity and value.

In Moche society, metal ornaments were status symbols, with copper indicating wealth and high social standing, but not royal or noble status, as those elite classes adorned themselves in gold and silver.

The Moche civilization (c. 200–700 AD), also known as the Mochicas, flourished along the northern coast of Peru, centuries before the rise of the Inca Empire. They are renowned for their masterful ceramics, intricate goldwork, monumental pyramid-like constructions (huacas), and advanced irrigation systems, which transformed the arid landscape into a thriving agricultural hub.

This beautifully preserved bell serves as both a musical instrument and a symbol of prestige, offering a rare glimpse into the sophisticated craftsmanship and hierarchical structure of Moche society.

Excellent condition. Wear commensurate with age and use. Reddish green surface patina and encrusted mineral deposits, with small areas perforations to metal. Size approx. 2,5cm x 2,0cm x 1,3cm. Wool string length c. 23,0cm.

Provenance: Former collection of the archaeologist Ferdinand Anton, Germany, combined between 1950 and 1965. Ferdinand Anton was born in 1929 in Munich, Germany. He made a living by writing richly illustrated books about the art objects and religious rituals of Pre-Columbian cultures: the Aztecs, the Maya, and Andean peoples of South America. He was an explorer who flew to South America and Mexico, and hiked to remote shrines where few Westerners had set foot. He wrote more than forty books.