Title

Spatula with Carved Lizard, 100 BC-700. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

Spatula with Carved Lizard, 100 BC-700. Peruvian Indians today regard coca leaf as a sacred substance that creates communion with supernatural forces. The leaves are chewed with powdered lime that in antiquity was stored in containers and scooped with spatulas like those seen here. Aside from its ritual meaning, coca has practical benefits: it is vitamin-rich; like coffee, it induces clear-headedness; and it increases stamina. The lizard spatula is Nasca in style; the other is Wari.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Reference

HRM19G06_400

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

56,9Mb (2,4Mb) / 12,7in x 17,3in / 3824 x 5199 (300dpi)

Keywords

sculpture Peru sculpture Unknown The Cleveland Museum of Art Heritage Art bone with shell inlay bone with shell inlay Nasca style 100 BC-AD 700