Chimú Ceremonial Copper Alloy Knife Tumi batebaphuwe Provenance: Private collection

Provenance: Private collection

giving it a distinctive tripod stance

serving both a decorative and symbolic purpose

The Rijksmuseum Bulletin

Social life was richly expressive

Chimú Ceremonial Copper Alloy Knife Tumi batebaphuwe Provenance: Private collectionPre Columbian Era, Chim Culture, c. 800 1470 AD, Moche Valley, Trujillo, Peru This exceptional and massive Chim sacrificial tumi, crafted from thin arsenical copper, is a striking example of the ceremonial blades used in ancient Andean rituals. Featuring a wide trapezoidal shaft and an elegant crescent shaped cutting edge, this finely made knife would have been placed in a mummy bundle as a votive offering, ensuring its owner's preparedness for the