- Museum number
- Am1921,0721.1
- Description
-
Miniature llama figurine, wrought in hammered gold, probably deposited as an offering.
- Production date
- 1400-1532
- Dimensions
-
Height: 6.50 centimetres
-
Width: 1.10 centimetres
-
Depth: 5.90 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- McEwan 2009, p.72
Miniature Gold Llama. Inca, Peru, 14th-15th century
Llamas are a vital source of meat and wool for altiplano communities as well as being pack animals. The size and health of its herds are a direct measure of a community's health and prosperity. Along with miniature human figurines, miniature golden llamas were deposited as offerings to accompany high-altitude human sacrifices to the mountain deities apus to ensure the arrival of the life-giving moisture that replenishes the altiplano grasses and promotes the fertility of the herds.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
1996, London, Museum of Mankind (Room 1), Gilded Image
2003-2009 15 Dec-Jun, BM, Living and Dying
2010-2011, London, BM/BBC, A History of the World in 100 Objects
2014 23 Apr-01 Aug, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2014-2015 13 Dec-15 Mar, National Palace Museum, Taipei, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2015 18 Apr–28 Jun, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2015 14 Jul–6 Sep, Kyushu National Museum, Dazaifu, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2015-2016 20 Sep-11 Jan, Kobe City Museum, Kobe, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2016 13 Feb-18 Jun, National Museum of Western Australia, Perth, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2016-2017 08 Sep-29 Jan, National Museum of Australia, Canberra, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2017 1 Mar-31 May, National Museum of China, Beijing, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2017 28 Jun-08 Oct, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2018 19 Apr-22 Jul, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Valenciennes, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2019 15 May-9 Sep, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, 'A History of the World in 100 Objects'
2021-2022 11 Nov-20 Feb, London, BM, G35, Peru: a journey in time
- Acquisition date
- 1921
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Am1921,0721.1