Elite members of Chimú society carried staffs, symbols of power and prestige. Individuals holding staffs are often depicted on textiles, embossed on gold, or rendered on sculpted pottery. This staff shows a leader on top but, interestingly, the figure is depicted with no animalistic features. Animal elements, such as fangs, are often found in ancient Andean representations of leaders.

Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian
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