Description:

Pre-Columbian, Peru, Inca, ca. 1300 CE - 1500 CE. Hollow sheet gold Incan llama miniature with superb detailing. Likely an offering to a deceased Incan ruler or elite individual. Unlike silver or copper, gold was immutable and did not tarnish. So gold work was reserved for the burials of the elite. Inca rulers were measured by their monopoly of the distribution of gold. The emperor represented the sun on earth, and gold symbolized the sun. Some heavy symbolism indeed! These tiny figurines were comprised of hammered gold sheets, joined by soldering at the side. They were formed by creating tubes for the body, head, ears, tail and penis, but stood on flat feet. 3.3 cm high x 3.3 cm long

Provenance: Ex-Miles Price collection, ca. 1940s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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  • Condition: Near choice!

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October 24, 2014 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000