Ceremonial Knife

between 500 BCE and 500 CE

Moche, Precolumbian

On View

Native American, Level 1, South Wing

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

Title Ceremonial Knife

Artwork Date between 500 BCE and 500 CE

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Precolumbian

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Moche

Medium Copper, shell, and mica

Dimensions Overall: 5 7/8 × 2 1/2 × 7/8 inches (14.9 × 6.4 × 2.2 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Indigenous Americas

Credit Founders Society Purchase, Conrad H. Smith Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 1984.31

Markings

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Provenance

1984-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Published References

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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

Suggest Feedback

Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Moche, Precolumbian, Ceremonial Knife, between 500 BCE and 500 CE, copper, shell, and mica. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Conrad H. Smith Fund, 1984.31.