andean copper masks
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Copper masks, ‘Cat God’ (pair)
Posted by Novica on 08 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Elongated eyes and fierce fangs characterize the jaguar, deified in pre-Hispanic times. These exquisite masks by Ana Mar???a Enciso link the mythic beast with the condor and the fox, both represented in the figures’ elaborate earrings. Enciso crafts the masks from copper and bronze treated with galvanic solutions. A hook at the back facilitates hanging.
Copper mask, ‘Crowned Ai Apaec’
Posted by Novica on 07 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Wearing a crown that emulates the sun, the god Ai Apaec appears in ancient splendor. Birds adorn his headdress, centered by a mysterious visage. Ana Mar???a Enciso crafts this extraordinary mask from copper and bronze, eliciting a rich texture with galvanic solutions. A hook at the back facilitates hanging.
Copper mask, ‘Sun Ritual’
Posted by Novica on 30 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Worn during sacred rituals, this Moche mask celebrates the sun’s benevolence. Its five star crown was originally intended to resemble the sun’s rays. Ana Maria Enciso handcrafts this mask in copper, soldiering embossed bronze motifs to replicate the masks found at Lambayeque. Enciso’s keen eye for detail renders this mask spectacular - ideal for the admirer of Peru’s glorious past.
Copper mask, ‘Lord of Sipan’
Posted by Novica on 28 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
This mask by Ana Maria Enciso is inspired in the burial site of the Lord of Sipan, one of the most important discoveries in Peruvian archaeology. The tomb was filled with valuable articles, representing the man’s high rank and semi-divine status. One of the pieces ??? a silver necklace featuring ten realistic human heads ??? is the basis for this mask. Combining sheets of copper and bronze, the artisan creates a textured vision, while galvanization techniques result in the blend of chemical tones. A work of eternal spirit for the contemporary interior. Note the intriguing appearance of scorpions on the ears.
Copper mask, ‘Sun God Temple’
Posted by Novica on 23 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Radiant and mystical, this mask of the sun is a stylized replica by the talented Ana Maria Enciso. The original piece adorns the grand Coricancha temple, dedicated to the Sun God in the Imperial City of Cuzco. Enciso casts the mask in copper with amazing detail; it features six felines and the face of a divinity on top. The mask undergoes a galvanized bath to obtain the green undertones that embellish it. The Spanish conquistador Diego de Trujillo wrote that when he and his troop arrived at Coricancha temple, a “regally dressed” priest stopped them and told them that in order to be worthy of entering the temple they should not have eaten, be bare-footed and carry a heavy load on their backs in a sign of respect and humility towards the Sun God. Coricancha was regarded as the “Place of Gold,” for the Sun God was to the Inca their supreme deity.
Copper mask, ‘Warrior God in Tears’
Posted by Novica on 22 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
This mask represents Ai Apaec, a mythical figure honored by the Moche culture. The design itself is adapted from the breastplates worn by high-ranking Inca men as found in Andean tombs. Ana Maria Enciso shapes the expression from a combination of copper and bronze, employing galvanized colors to complement the metallic surface. A singular Peruvian adornment for any space. At Huaca de la Luna, a ceremonial structure found on the western flanks of Cerro Blanco in Peru, archaeologists discovered a polychromatic relief panel depicting Ai Apaec, the supreme god of the ancient Moche culture. The image is characterized by his feline attributes, mythical mask, prominent eyebrows, agape mouth, and sharp, aggressive fangs. Black scrolls surround his face while a rhombus appears at the center, bordered in stylish bands representative of manta rays. Ai Apaec is identified with the ideologies inherited from the epic of the Chavin and complemented by other deities, such as the serpent, the condor, or the eagle, representative of Andean culture. It is suggested that his influence is primarily cosmic and that Ai Apaec was actually a constellation in the sky.
Bronze masks, ‘Ancient Trio’ (set of 3)
Posted by Novica on 14 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Wearing elaborate headdresses and earrings, faces appear from the ancient past. Ana Mar???a Enciso creates a trio of masks inspired by the Lambayeque cultures. Located north of Lima, the fertile Lambayeque Valley was the cradle of the Moche and Chimu civilizations. Enciso crafts the masks from copper and bronze treated with galvanic solutions. A hook at the back facilitates hanging.
Copper mask, ‘God of Fertility’
Posted by Novica on 14 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
An elaborate headdress symbolizes a stalk of corn with an arrow pointing towards the heavens ??? the realm of Ai Apaec, the supreme god of Peru’s Moche culture. Diamonds and golden suns adorn the ears of this mask, luminously framing an empowered expression. Ana Maria Enciso crafts the piece by hand from a combination of bronze and copper, while techniques of galvanization create the cool malachite tone. An adornment of fertile Andean sentiment for the home d???cor. At Huaca de la Luna, a ceremonial structure found on the western flanks of Cerro Blanco in Peru, archaeologists discovered a polychromatic relief panel depicting Ai Apaec, the supreme god of the ancient Moche culture. The image is characterized by his feline attributes, mythical mask, prominent eyebrows, agape mouth, and sharp, aggressive fangs. Black scrolls surround his face while a rhombus appears at the center, bordered in stylish bands representative of manta rays. Ai Apaec is identified with the ideologies inherited from the epic of the Chavin and complemented by other deities, such as the serpent, the condor, or the eagle, representative of Andean culture. It is suggested that his influence is primarily cosmic and that Ai Apaec was actually a constellation in the sky.
Bronze masks, ‘Tumi’ (pair)
Posted by Novica on 08 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Inspired by the sharp arc of the tumi, a pre-Hispanic blade, Ana Mar???a Enciso creates a pair of beautiful masks. In the larger mask, a figure stands on the gleaming ceremonial knife. The smaller piece depicts a ruler with the sun god Inti on his headdress. Enciso crafts the masks from copper and bronze treated with galvanic solutions. A hook at the back facilitates hanging.
Copper mask, ‘Ai Apaec with Ritual Crown’
Posted by Novica on 08 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: andean copper masks, home decor, masks, novica
Eyes rimmed with golden rays, the god Ai Apaec wears a ritual headdress. Crowned by the sun itself, it is adorned with birds that dangle alluringly from either side; splendid earrings confirm the status of this divine personage. Ana Mar???a Enciso crafts this mask from copper and bronze treated with galvanic solutions. A hook at the back facilitates hanging.