Pre-Columbian, Central Peru, Huari (Wari) culture, ca. 700 to 1000 CE. An impressive tupu, an ancient Andean version of a brooch or shawl pin, cast from 99.5% copper. The fascinating implement presents a slender body that tapers to a tip at one end, while the other is capped with a jaguar-form finial, displaying a square snout, bared teeth, risen eyes, short legs, an openwork body, a ridged back, and a pointed tail. An ovoid perforation pierces through the top of the body of the tupu, allowing it to be pinned to an article of clothing. Size: 1.75" W x 8.5" H (4.4 cm x 21.6 cm); 9" H (22.9 cm) on included custom stand.The jaguar symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world. Warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World. I wonder who wore this special jaguar tupu. Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950-1960s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #165672