Photo Gallery

Chimú breast jewellery - with 166 faces, silver figures - Origin: Lambayeque - Archaeological Museum Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

The golden tumi of Íllimo was a knife or ceremonial axe of the Lambayeque culture (8th to 14th centuries), although it was long wrongly attributed to the Chimú culture. It was made of embossed gold leaf and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Its blade had a semi-circular shape and its handle was an elaborate representation of a deity, probably the mythical Naylamp mentioned in Spanish chronicles. It is the most famous example of old Peruvian goldsmithing. It was stolen from the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in Lima in 1981. The valuable stolen piece had the following dimensions: Total length 43.5 cm; length of the figure of the god 29 cm; length of the knife in the shape of a half-moon 14.5 cm; maximum width 15.5 cm. The weight was 1 kilogram. - 1977

Lambayeque culture - gold tumi with turquoise inlays, representing the deity "Naymlap" - 22 carat - weight 536 g - Museo Oro del Perú - Lima - 1977

Gold and silver cast brooch of the Chimú Lambayeque culture - hammered and embossed work - with shells and earrings in turquoise - 12th century - Height 4.5 cm, weight 7 g - Museo Arqueológico Brünning - Lambayeque - 1976

Vicús culture ceramic vase - Museo Regional de Ica - 1969

Copper death mask from the Chimú culture, Peru (height 22 cm). The Chimú were regarded as the most outstanding gold and silversmiths of the pre-Inca and Inca periods. Following the subjugation of the Chimú, the Incas brought the finest artists to Cuzco. Museo Arqueológico Brüning, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 72 - Peru - 1977

Ceramic statue of Naymlaps, the mythical founder of the Chimú Empire (height 18 cm). Brüning Archaeological Museum, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 49 - Peru - 1976

A huaco, or stirrup-shaped vessel, from the coastal Chavín culture, Chiclayo Valley, Peru (height 23 cm). A chameleon or cat-like creature in the black pottery characteristic of Chavín. Brüning Archaeological Museum, Lambayeque, Peru. - Book: Picture 65 - Peru - 1976

Vessel with a double spout and loop handles from the Nazca culture. This culture, which flourished during the Classical Period of pre-Columbian Peru between 100 and 800 AD in the coastal valleys of Ica, Pisco and Nazca, influenced both the surrounding areas and later cultures, right up to the Incas, with its outstanding pottery featuring vibrant colours. Museo Regional de Ica, Peru. - Book: Picture 68 - Peru - 1969