Spatula Item Number: Sf540 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Fragment; a cast metal figure of an animal squats on a rectangular platform atop a short, broken shaft. The animal has a high, dome-like forehead, a flat nose and ears at the sides of its head. The tail is broken off near the body.
History Of Use
Probably the top part of a broken spatula like ones from the Inca site of Machu Picchu (Bingham). Such spatulas were used for dipping lime out of a bottle as a part of coca leaf chewing process.
Iconographic Meaning
The squatting animal is a monkey. The usually curling tail is broken off.
Narrative
Inca Style ? Late Horizon, 1476-1532.
Item History
What
- Name
- Spatula
- Identification Number
- Sf540
- Type of Item
- spatula
- Material
- bronze metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast
- Overall
- height 3.7 cm, width 0.5 cm, depth 1.5 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- between 1476 and 1532
- Collection Date
- between 1949 and 1966
- Ownership Date
- before May 4, 1981
- Acquisition Date
- on May 4, 1981
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- poor
- Accession Number
- 0711/0043