Finial for Pin or Blade Depicting Figures Shearing a Llama Possibly 1450 - 1532

This miniature tableau of llama shearing was created by an unknown Inca artist in South America. The bronze was likely formed using the lost wax casting technique, a method employed by Andean artists for millennia. The metal possesses a weighty, grounded quality, and you can see considerable detail – look closely, and you can see the shearers’ tools, and even the llama’s shorn fleece. The surface has an aged, earthy patina that speaks to the passage of time, and perhaps the finial's burial. The scene provides a glimpse into the vital role of llama shearing in Inca society, where the wool was a primary resource for textiles, and clothing. This object reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images offer insight into labor, skill, and cultural traditions. By appreciating this finial, we gain a more profound understanding of Inca life, and question distinctions between art, craft, and social record.