Chimú Wooden Staff with Anthropomorphic Finial

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, ca. 1100–1450 CE
Wood, 59 in (150 cm) in length

Finely carved from a single piece of dense hardwood, this ceremonial staff terminates in a sculptural anthropomorphic figure rendered in classic Chimú style. The figure sits atop the shaft with flexed legs and squared limbs, displaying the characteristic frontal pose, angular facial planes, and prominent nose typical of late-Intermediate Period coastal iconography. A cylindrical headdress crowns the head, perhaps signifying rank or a ritual office.

The surface shows a rich patina from age and handling, with traces of ancient wear consistent with prolonged ritual use. Such staffs were likely emblems of authority or processional standards associated with elite or priestly figures within Chimú society, whose capital at Chan Chan was one of the most sophisticated urban centers of pre-Inca Peru.

Comparable examples are preserved in the Museo Larco (Lima) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, each illustrating the Chimú mastery of figural carving in perishable media.

Provenance: Ex Blue Box auction, VA., Ex. Private, Dallas, Texas collection, Ex. H. Rose, NY.