Peru, Early Horizon, circa 900–500 B.C.
Height: 5 in (12.7 cm)

Modeled in a compact cylindrical form, the figure displays the stylized traits emblematic of the Chavín aesthetic. The head, delineated with incised linear motifs, bears a prominent hooked nose and wide, almond-shaped eyes framed by geometric contours. A single circular aperture is placed at the center of the torso, possibly of ritual or functional significance. The surface retains areas of red-brown pigment with mineral accretions and scattered encrustation, enhancing the sculptural presence of the piece.

The Chavín culture, flourishing in the northern Andean highlands of Peru, produced some of the earliest religious iconography in the region, characterized by a synthesis of human and supernatural attributes rendered through abstraction and symmetry. This example encapsulates those early sculptural ideals in miniature form.

Ex. Palmyra Heritage Gallery, Property of Nanci McGonigal, Collection of Walter J. Bray, Mantoloking, NJ. Active since 1960’s. To family by descent.

Surface losses and areas of pigment depletion consistent with age. The figure remains intact overall, with no modern restoration visible.