Tumi (Primary Title)
Chimu Tumis (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Tumis, or ceremonial knives, have a distinctive shape that consists of an elongated rectangular handle and a half-circle blade. While associated with warriors and other elite individuals, tumis were not intended for use in battle but were used during ceremonial sacrifices. In prehistoric Andean art, figures that hold tumis in one hand frequently hold a decapitated human head in the other, thereby associating the tumi with ritual human sacrifice. In an area prone to devastating natural disasters, the sacrifice of goods, animals, and humans was a way to ask deities for good weather and abundance.
Pre-Columbian
From the Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection, Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Endowment
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
