RED LIST OFPERUVIANANTIQUITIESAT RISKR E D LQIUSI TTI E S A T R I S KANOF PERUVIANTIIn order to combat the looting and destructionof Peruvian archaeological sites and ecclesiastical complexes, the International Council ofMuseums has published this Red List ofPeruvian Antiquities at Risk to assist legal
authorities, build public awareness, andpromote international cooperation in theprotection of the cultural heritage of Peru.
1This Red List is the fifth in the series published by ICOM to date. Red Lists describe types andcategories of objects protected under national legislation and international agreementsthat are frequently illegally traded internationally. These Lists are developed by international teams of experts in the archaeology and ethnology of the country or regionof origin of the objects. The illustrations show objects that, in the opinion of experts,
belong to the categories that are most likely to be looted and traded illicitly. Red Lists aredesigned to protect cultural heritage at risk by assisting customs and law enforcement
officials, dealers in art and antiquities,
2museums and collectors to identify objectsof possible illicit origin. Potential buyers areadvised to refrain from any purchase unlessthe items are accompanied by a certificate
of origin and documentation showing
provenance. Furthermore, customs, law
enforcement officials, and other authorities
are encouraged to take precautionary
measures with respect to any object of suspectorigin while its provenance is investigatedin detail.
1. Looted archæological necropolis, Central Coast, Peru.
© Huaca Malena Municipal Museum
2. Plundered Church of Coporaque, Cusco. © INC© 2007, ICOM, All rights reserved.

Introduction

Objective

The cultural heritage of Peru includes easily
identifiable and unique objects of the great
pre-Columbian civilizations, of the times of
the Viceroyalty, and of the Republican era.

This Red List has been developed to assist
museums, dealers in art and antiquities,
and collectors, as well as customs and law
enforcement officials in the identification ofobjects that may have been illicitly exported
from Peru. To facilitate identification, theList describes several categories of objects
at risk of being illicitly traded on the antiquities market. These objects are protectedunder Peruvian legislation banning theirexport and sale. Therefore, ICOM appeals
to museums, auction houses, dealers inart and antiquities, and collectors not
to purchase such objects without firsthaving checked thoroughly their origin
and provenance documentation.

Despite the protection afforded by nationallegislation and international instruments,
the cultural wealth of Peru is affected bylooting and illicit trade. Between 2004 and2006, illicit exports of over 5,000 culturaland natural objects were intercepted.
Nevertheless, the number of clandestineexcavations at archaeological sites hasincreased, as have thefts from churches andmuseums.
Illicit trade in Peruvian cultural property
causes irreparable damage to the country’s
heritage and identity, and constitutes
a serious loss for the memory of mankind.

Because of the great diversity of Peruvian
objects, styles, and periods, the Red List ofPeruvian Antiquities at Risk is not exhaustive,
and any antiquity that may have originatedin Peru should be subjected to detailed
scrutiny and precautionary measures.

The cultural heritage of Peru is protected by the following:NATIONAL LEGISLATIONINTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Political Constitution of Peru (1993): Article 21

1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting
and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transferof Ownership of Cultural Property

Cultural Heritage of the Country General Act:
Act No. 28296 (2004) and its Regulations (2006)
Supreme Decree No. 007-2006-MTC,
Act No. 28404 - Regulations, Security of Civil Aviation Act
Decree Law No. 19414 (1972), Defence,
Conservation and Development of the Country’s
Documentary Heritage Act and its Regulations
Legislative Decree No. 635 (1991), Criminal Code: Title VIII
Legislative Decree No. 961 (2006),
Code of Justice Military Police of Peru

Convention of The Hague of 1954 and its two Protocols(1954 and 1999)
Andean Community Decision 588 of 2004
1995 UNIDROIT Convention onA Stolen or Illegally Exported
Cultural Objects
OAS Convention on the Protectionof the Archaeological, Historical, and Artistic Heritageof the Nation (Convention of San Salvador of 1976)

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Guatemala,Honduras, Hungary, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, South Africa (pending), Switzerland, Turkey,
United States of America, and Uruguay.
http://www.rree.gob.pe/portal/cultural.nsf/C04F68E40CD4043C05256E3D0005D1D0
National Institute of Culture of Peru: http://inc.perucultural.org.pe/R E DL I S TO F

P E R U V I A N

THE RED LIST COVERS THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:(As of the date of this printing, these images do not represent stolen objects. Rather,
they serve to illustrate the categories of objects which are the target of illicit traffic.)

PRE-COLUMBIAN PERIOD
TextilesTextiles with repeating designs and colours. They may be madeof wool or cotton, with feathers or metal.

13

A/ Quipus: sets of knotted strings hanging from a main cord.
[illus. 1]		B/ Textiles: mantles of various shapes, decorated with brilliant
colours, geometric designs and mythical characters. [illus. 2]
C/ Feather weavings: tunics and textiles (or fragments) into
which are woven coloured feathers. [illus. 3]
2

1. Inca Armatambo Quipu, 1450-1532 AD, 134 x 80 cm. © MNAAHP
2. Paracas mantle, Early Nasca, 200 BC, 265 x 157 cm. © MNAAHP
3. Nasca feather weaving, 200 BC-600 AD, 85 x 64 cm. © MNAAHP

MetalsOrnaments, vessels and figurines made of gold, silver and copper.
They may have inlaid semi-precious stones.
A/ Masks: stylized face of sheet metal. Typically they havealmond-shaped eyes and attached or hanging elements. They
may retain traces of red pigment. [illus. 4]
B/ Ear ornaments: ornaments designed to be worn through theear lobes. [illus. 5]
C/ Nose ornaments: objects with two hooks to hold thembetween the nostrils. [illus. 6]
D/ Headdress elements: gold or silver circular or semicirculardecorated objects, worn on the head. [illus. 7]

44. Sicán gold mask, 900-1100 AD, 29 x 54 cm. © Museo Nacional Sicán
5. Moche ear ornaments, 1st-7th cent. AD, 12.7 x 4.0 cm. © Museo Larco
6. Moche nose ornament, 1st-7th cent. AD, 3.4 x 12.7 cm. © Museo Larco
7. Moche frontal ornament, 1st-7th cent. AD, 22.4 x 25.6 cm.
© Museo Larco

567

A N T I Q U I T I E SCeramics

A TR I S K

98

Fired clay vessels of various shapes with incised, modeled,molded, and painted designs.
A/ Pictoral vessels: decorated with vivid colours, geometric
designs, and mythological figures. [illus. 8]		B/ Sculptural vessels: in the shape of fruit, animals, humans orgods, in various positions. [illus. 9]
C/ Figures: standing male or female figurines; usually naked.
The best known are the “cuchimilcos” of the Chancay culture.
[illus. 10]

8. Nasca polychrome vessel, 2nd cent. BC - 6th cent. AD, 11.0 x 14.3 cm.
9. Moche warrior, 1st-7th cent. AD, 37 x 20 cm.
10. Chancay Cuchimilco, 10th-15th cent. AD, 59.8 x 31.6 cm.
© MNAAHP

12
10

Semi-precious stones
Figurines and small objects usually made of turquoise. Necklaces
and ornaments with lapis-lazuli, quartz, amethyst, and sodalite.
[illus. 11]

Stone

11
11. Wari turquoise figurine,
600-1000 AD, 3.72 x 1.94 cm.
© MNAAHP

Sculptures, tools, weapons and stelae of all sizes, with various
designs. [illus. 12]

12. Pukara sculpture, 200 BC-200 AD,
200 x 75 cm. © MNAAHP

Wood
Sculptures, utensils and vessels, painted or decorated with inlaid
shell or stone.
A/ Oars: the blade of the oar is usually smooth, and the upper
shaft and top are usually carved. [illus. 13]
B/ Masks: human faces often with red pigment, and with inlaid
shell eyes. Some have human hair, textile, and feather elements.
[illus. 14]

14
13

Fossils
Petrified remains of vertebrates (shark teeth, fish or bird bones),
invertebrates (molluscs and trilobites), or plants. [illus. 15-16]
1513. Detail of Chincha ceremonial oar,
1000-1400 AD, oar:229 x 22.9 cm. © MNAAHP

14. Chancay mask, 10th-15th cent. AD,
17 x 18 cm. © MNAAHP

16

15. Oyster, ammonites and urchin, Albian/Coniacian. © INC

Human remains
Mummies or bones; they may be wrapped in textiles forming(complete or partial) funeral bundles. [illus. 17]

16. Fossilised cranium of Peruvian
Booby, Miocene/Pliocene.
© INGEMMET
17. Chachapoya-Inca funeral bundle,
1400-1600 AD. © Centro Mallqui

17

R E DL I S TO F

P E R U V I A N

COLONIAL & REPUBLICAN PERIOD

18. Colonial Kero, 16th-19th cent. AD,
28 cm. © Museo Regional de Cusco

Ethnografic objects
Ritual vessels or objects such as keros (carved wood vessels
decorated with scenes depicting people, animals, flowers andgeometric designs). [illus. 18]

18

Paintings
Painting on canvas, wood or metal generally depicting religious
themes: virgins, angels, saints and scenes of the life of Jesus,
with or without gold decorations. [illus. 19-20]
19

19. Archangel with harquebus,
18th cent. AD, 114 x 82 cm.
© MNAAHP
20. The Virgin with theHoly Trinity, Saint Ursulaand Saint Catherine, 18th cent.
AD, 120.3 x 94.2 cm. © INC

20

Sculpture
Sculptures, reliefs or elements from retables. They represent
virgins, saints, crucified Christs, angels, and the Child Jesus. They
are carved in wood; or made of cloth, glue, and plaster. [illus. 21]

Silvercraft
Liturgical objects such as altar frontals, monstrances, chalices,flagons, incense burners, and crucifixes; and utensils orvarious kinds of ornaments. They are made of cast, chiselled,embossed, hammered, or filigree silver. Some are gold-plated
and may have pearls or precious stones. [illus. 22-23]

222123
21. Archangel Saint Michael,18th cent. AD,71.5 cm. © INC

23. Silver altar frontal, 18th cent. AD,
58 x 63 cm. © INC

22. Ornamental pins for
clothing or “tupus”, 18th cent.
AD, 27.4 x 4.5 cm. © INC

A N T I Q U I T I E S
Numismatics
Gold or silver coins and medals, circular and sometimes ofirregular shape, with inscriptions referring to the Crown of Spainor to the Viceroyalty of Peru. [illus. 24-25-26-27]

242526A TR I S K

24. Silver coin worth eight reales, “Columnaria”, 1753.
25. Silver coin worth eight reales, “Macuquina”, 1742.
26. Gold coin worth four escudos, “Pelucona”, 1752.
27. Silver coin worth one real, 1568.
© Museo del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú27

Furniture
Carved wood furniture, either painted and gilded, or with woodor mother-of-pearl inlays. Bargueños, or portable writing desks,
are of particular note, as well as music stands, chests, and coffers.
[illus. 28]2829

28. Writing desk, 18th cent. AD,
83 x 75.5 cm. © Cathedral of Lima

30Drawings and engravings
Pencil and coal drawings, watercolours, and black and white orcoloured engravings. With religious or historic scenes. [illus. 29]

TextilesLiturgical vestments such as cassocks, dalmatics, and stoles,
among others, with flowers and religious symbols embroideredin silver and gold thread. Also tapestries, bands, and cloth withreligious designs. [illus. 30]

29. Pancho Fierro watercolour,
19th cent. AD, 28 x 21 cm. © INC

30. Cassock, 18th cent. AD. © INC

Documents
Papers, maps, manuscripts and old printed material. They may
have letterheads, official seals, signatures, and the stamp of thedepository archive. [illus. 31-32]

31
31. Manuscript signed by Ramón Castilla on 19 April 1860.
© Archivo General de la Nación

32

32. Symbolo Catholico Indiano, printed in Limaby Antonio Ricardo, 1598. © Biblioteca Nacional del Perú

Ceramics
Tiles, vessels, objects, and ornaments made of vitreous ceramics
with religious and floral motifs. [illus. 33]

33. Panel of tiles, 1656, 254 x 92 cm.
© Cathedral of Lima

33

ICOM AND THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGEThe International Council of Museums (ICOM), created in 1946 to represent museums and museum
professionals worldwide, is committed to the promotion and protection of natural and cultural heritage,
present and future, tangible and intangible. With a unique network of over 40,000 members in 138
countries and territories (2018), ICOM is active in a wide range of museum-and heritage-related disciplines.
ICOM maintains formal relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) and has a consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
as an expert in the fight against illicit traffic in cultural goods. ICOM also works in collaboration withorganisations such as INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO) to carry out some of its
international public service missions.
The protection of heritage in the event of natural disaster or armed conflict is also at the core ofICOM’s work, thanks to its Disaster Risk Management Committee (DRMC) and through its strong
involvement in the international Blue Shield. ICOM has the ability to mobilise expert networks
in the field of cultural heritage from all over the world thanks to its numerous programmes.
In 2013, ICOM created the first International Observatory on Illicit Traffic in Cultural Goods in order toreinforce its action in fighting illicit traffic.
The Red Lists have been designed as practical tools to curb the illegal trade in cultural objects. ICOM
is grateful for the unwavering commitment of the experts and institutions who generously contributeto the success of the Red Lists.

The Red Lists are available at the following address: http://redlist.icom.museum

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Washington, D.C.

22, rue de Palestro - 75002 Paris - FranceTel.: +33 (0)1 47 34 05 00 - Fax: +33 (0)1 43 06 78 62
E-mail: illicit-traffic@icom.museum - Website: http://icom.museum

11/07 - TTT - Cover: Balsero Chancay, 10th-15th centuries AD, 25 x 35 cm. © MNAAHP

This Red List was developed with the generous support of: