Huari Llama Bone Drug Spoon w/ Bird & Crustaceans

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Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 24, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-03-24 10:00:00 2022-03-24 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Central Peru, Huari (Wari) culture, ca. 700 to 1000 CE. A stunning hand-carved spoon made from the leg bone of a camelid, likely a llama with zoomorphic forms incised into the surface. The knobbed joint areas contain an avian or reptilian hybrid creature, the head rising in relief, the beak open as if biting or swallowing the rest of the bone carvings which consist of a lobster the claws and pincers delightfully visible on both sides. A second lobster incised into the venter of the main body with stippled geometric and decorative elements throughout. The bone shaft is shaped so that a panel to one side projects further out from the bone acting like a scoop, and the rest of the handle is hollowed out. Such an ornate tool may have been used for ceremonial preparation and ingestion of hallucinogenic drugs and may depict a mythical scene. Size: 6.25" L x 1.75" W (15.9 cm x 4.4 cm)
  
  Spoons like this one were part of the elaborate battery of objects carefully manufactured by ancient Andeans in order to ingest a ground drug known as vilca or huilca, found in southern Peru and Bolivia, and obtained from the beans of the tree Anadenanthera colubrina. We know of them from burials, where they were placed as offerings and perhaps to provision the dead alongside inhalation tubes and other paraphernalia. Feline heads are some of the most important, and therefore common, artistic themes on drug paraphernalia from this region. They are associated with the use of psychoactive substances that could "transform" a shaman or priest into a feline.
  
  Ancient Peruvians were keen observers of nature and as fishmen, would have been familiar with the bodies and movement of sea creatures like these. Crustaceans may have had special spiritual significance, as we know that the Moche people had a major marine deity in the form of a crab who fought against a fish monster in a periodic cycle of death and rebirth.
  
  Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection
  
  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.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #170507

  Condition

  Minor surface nicks with natural ossification, otherwise intact and choice. Beautiful dark patina throughout.
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