Pre-Columbian Chimu Sceptre with Standing Figure. 13th-14th century AD. A carved wooden ceremonial staff fitting with figure of a standing man wearing a transverse headdress, discoid earrings and necklace, holding the straps of a bag carried on his back; mounted on a custom-made display stand.Cf. Jackson, M.A., ‘The Chimú Sculptures of Huacas Tacaynamo and El Dragon, Moche Valley, Perú' in Latin American Antiquity, vol.15, no.3, September, 2004, pp.298-322, fig.13a.222 grams total, 30.5cm including stand (12"). Property of a French gentleman living in Paris; previously in a private Swiss collection, Basel; formerly with Sotheby's, London, UK, 5 June, 1961, lot 126; accompanied by a copy of the relevant Sotheby's catalogue pages.Many characters in the wooden Chimú sculptures had trapezoidal headdresses and loincloths, indicating male gender. The upper torsos, front and back, are very often decorated with diving cormorant motifs, inlaid with dark brown/black hardwoods and white shell highlights.