Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Chavin, Lemon-Carro, ca. 1200 to 500 BCE. A miniature grey stone figural vessel, anthropomorphic in form, with carved hands at its sides, wide eyes, and a prominent nose. The top of the figure's head is hollowed out to allow the placement of hallucinogenic drugs to be used during shamanic rituals. Size: 1.5" W x 3" H (3.8 cm x 7.6 cm)

From the earliest times, people in the Andes had a tradition of using coca leaves for ritual purposes. In the Pre-Columbian period, coca leaves were ingested by placing some of the leaves in the mouth and adding a small quantity of powdered lime, ground from seashells. This type of vessel was probably used to hold the lime powder.

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

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#123833

  • Condition: Wear to surface of stone as shown.

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May 25, 2017 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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