Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Paracas culture, ca. 500 to 100 BCE. A bone spatula and spoon, carefully carved by hand, and made for use in shamanic rituals involving hallucinogenic drugs. The spatula has been hollowed out at one end, leaving uncarved bone at the other; it is wrapped with woven wool fiber and the bone has taken on a beautiful, almost golden patina. The spoon has a tiny bowl at one end with a flat rim; the other end is in the form of an avian head, depicting a bird in profile with large eyes and a long beak - probably a sea bird. Comes with custom stand. Size: 6" W x 5.5" H (15.2 cm x 14 cm)

Drug use was an important part of life in ancient Peru from the earliest times. Lime (made from calcined seashells) was kept in small containers called poporo, and extracted using a small spatula or spoon like these two. This was part of the ritual of coca-leaf chewing - the coca leaves were combined in the mouth with a tiny bit of lime to make them easier to masticate. Every element of the drug ritual was often elaborately carved, suggesting a high level of care by the artisans.

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

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#123899

  • Condition: Both have lovely patina from handling and age.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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