Weight Representing a Llama Possibly 1450 - 1532

This is a small, smoothly-carved weight representing a llama, likely created by the Inca people. The piece uses a light brown stone with darker brown marbling which creates a fascinating interplay between form and material. The llama's body is compact, its legs suggested by small, stubby protrusions that give the sculpture a sense of groundedness. The animal's form is stylized, almost abstracted, which serves not just an aesthetic purpose but invites a deeper reading into the symbol of the llama in Inca culture. This use of form, scale, and material prompts us to consider the ways in which the Incas perceived and interacted with their environment, using such objects to mediate between the practical and the symbolic realms. This small object's interplay between utilitarian function and symbolic representation highlights how even the most quotidian objects can be charged with cultural meaning.