Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Paracas culture, ca. 500 to 100 BCE. An incredibly-preserved bone spatula with a woven textile finial topped by a thick tuft of golden alpaca or llama fur. The bone spatula has been hand-carved to be open and flattened, allowing its owner to scoop up lime from a specialized container as part of the coca ritual. The woven fabric is red, pink, and brown, and its condition is incredible for its age. Comes with custom stand. Size: 1.5" W x 9" H (3.8 cm x 22.9 cm)

The llama or alpaca was the most important animal in ancient Peru, able to function well at high altitude and possessed of fine, woolly coats that were woven into elaborate patterns and clothed Peruvian elites, alive and as mummies, for thousands of years. The animals were also important religious sacrifices, and the census counting them was only slightly less important than that for humans. Different colors of their fur had different meaning for their sacrificial value, and this golden-colored hair may have related to an animal sacrificed during a particular part of the agricultural cycle.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Westermann collection, Germany

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#123902

  • Condition: Beautiful patina from age and handling on bone. Weaving has tiny losses/fading but is really in good condition, as is the tuft of fur.

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May 9, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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