Miniature Tray Possibly 1450 - 1532

This miniature tray was created by an Inca artist. The Inca civilization flourished in ancient Peru between the 15th and 16th centuries. What’s immediately striking is the tray’s small size, hinting at a world of intimate rituals and personal significance. The geometric designs are a clear demonstration of the Inca’s sophisticated artistic skills, demonstrating a culture that placed high value on order and precision. But let’s not stop there. We have to think about how colonization impacted indigenous communities. How did these people manage to hold onto their identities and cultures? This tray, with its traditional designs, might have been a way for the Incas to quietly stand up for who they were and what they believed in, even when things were hard. The simplicity of the tray, its compact form, speaks to the resilience and creativity that thrived even when under pressure.