2nd-6th century AD. An important copper funerary mask representing a Moche dignitary; he wears a stylised octopus headdress with a central owl-head in high-relief, ornamental collar around his neck, discoid ear spools with owl-head bosses in high-relief; hammer and repoussé technique; light green-black patina; Lambayeque Valley, circa 200-500 AD. See Newton, D. et al., The Pacific Islands, Africa, and the Americas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1987; cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Moche mask, accession no. 1979.206.1279, for similar example. 176 grams, 19.5cm (7 3/4"). Ex Martin Schloderer, Mechtersheim, Germany; previously in the collection of T.J. Die, Texas, USA; acquired from a Texas based dealer in 2007; previously in a USA private collection; formerly acquired in the 1950s. Funerary masks like this one were only worn by high status individuals such as kings and religious figures. Moche was a powerful and influential state. Repoussé is a metalworking technique in which a malleable metal is shaped and decorated by hammering from the reverse side to create a raised design on the front. No metal is lost in the process, although the process is relatively slow, with the end result being one continuous surface of sheet metal of essentially uniform thickness. Any direct contact with the tools used in the process usually remains visible.