Spatula Item Number: Sf528 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A conical metal shaft with modelled quadruped figure finial. The animal figure has a square muzzle, ears and a long tail lying over its back, and it crouches on a rectangular platform. There is a hole through the shaft just below the finial.
History Of Use
Artifacts like this are common in north coast graves from the Moche Period onward. They probably functioned as spatulas for dipping the lime out of a container for use during coca-leaf chewing (Antze). Coca leaves were chewed with lime for the narcotic effect of cocaine as part of many rituals.
Narrative
Vicus style, Early Intermediate Period; 0-200 C.E. Related objects have a flattened tip and are more spoon-like. Some may have functioned as lime bottle stoppers as well.
Iconographic Meaning
The doubled back tail relates this figure to a feline on the handle of a Vicus knife (Disselhoff).
Item History
What
- Name
- Spatula
- Identification Number
- Sf528
- Type of Item
- spatula
- Material
- copper metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast
- Overall
- height 13.5 cm, width 0.9 cm, depth 2.5 cm
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Peru
When
- Creation Date
- during 200
- 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
- 0711/0031