Pre-Columbian, Peru, Inca Empire, ca. 1470 to 1532 CE. A wonderful example of a canopic vessel of a hefty form carved from a gray-black stone that is polished until smooth. The llama exhibits characteristic camelid features such as a bulbous body, a drooping tail, a raised head with perky ears, a thick snout, and a wavy, fleecy dewlap hanging in layers beneath the neck. A drilled cavity in the back perhaps held animal fat as an offering to the gods, and remains of its original contents can still be seen and felt within. The head and neck are decorated with faint remains of red cinnabar that show the llama adorned with a bridle as a domesticated animal. Size: 4.7" L x 2.2" W x 3" H (11.9 cm x 5.6 cm x 7.6 cm)

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1994.35.759

Provenance: private New York, USA collection, purchased in 1994; ex-Sotheby's, New York "Pre-Columbian Art" auction (sale 6625, November 15, 1994, lot 239)

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#165123

Small chips around drilled cavity on back, with light abrasions to head, neck, body, base, and tail, and fading to red cinnabar pigment, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to overall form, nice surface smoothness, and good remains of cinnabar pigment on face and neck. Original contents - perhaps animal fat - still visible and able to be felt within back cavity. Old inventory label beneath base.