Nasca. <em>Figurine</em>, 300–700 C.E. Ivory, shell, stone, resin, pigment, turquoise, 3 x 1 1/8 x 3/4 in. (7.6 x 2.9 x 1.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.196. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.196.jpg)

Nasca. Figurine, 300–700 C.E. Ivory, shell, stone, resin, pigment, turquoise, 3 x 1 1/8 x 3/4 in. (7.6 x 2.9 x 1.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.196. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.196.jpg)

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Where did the ivory come from? Because I think of ivory coming from elephants but I don't think there are elephants in South America.

Ivory can refer to the tusks and teeth of a number of different animals, not just elephants. In this case, the ivory probably came from a whale tooth.

Cool, thanks!

No problem!

Where did the ivory come from to make these figurines? Thanks!

These figurines are made of whale teeth, which can also be referred to as ivory. Whale teeth, and other materials found in the ocean, were often seen as special in coastal, Andean South America.

So the coastal Peruvians were whalers/hunters or just waited for dead whales to wash up onshore? Or they traded with other groups that hunted them?

It depends. They had extensive trade networks along the Pacific coast. For example, they imported a lot of shells from warmer waters. Their boats were often quite small so I'm not sure how much hunting of large sea creatures they did.

Cool, thanks so much!

Figurine

Arts of the Americas

These ivory figurines may be high-status versions of the miniature clay examples that have been found in burial contexts throughout the Andean region of South America. The small and delicate male and female carvings are decorated with stone and shell inlays that suggest that they possibly functioned as treasured talismans or ritual offerings.

Estas figurillas de marfil pueden tratarse de versiones de alto rango de los ejemplos de miniaturas de barro que se han encontrado en contextos funerarios a través de la región Andina de Sudamérica. Los pequeños y delicados tallados masculino y femenino están decorados con incrustaciones de piedra y concha, sugiriendo que tuvieron una función como amuletos atesorados o como ofrendas rituales.

CULTURE Nasca

MEDIUM Ivory, shell, stone, resin, pigment, turquoise

Place Made: South Coast, Peru

DATES 300–700 C.E.

PERIOD Early Intermediate Period

DIMENSIONS 3 x 1 1/8 x 3/4 in. (7.6 x 2.9 x 1.9 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 86.224.196

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Ivory female figurine, nude with heavy thighs and buttocks. Originally a headdress and locks of hair were represented by inlays, and a bracelet is still inlaid with stone and shell on each arm. Lacks breasts; arms are held at sides, with hands attached to outer thighs. One of a pair. Male companion piece is 86.224.195. CONDITION: See original Registrar's records (1965) and subsequent conservation reports. Most inlay from the headdress and hair missing.

EXHIBITIONS

Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Nasca. Figurine, 300–700 C.E. Ivory, shell, stone, resin, pigment, turquoise, 3 x 1 1/8 x 3/4 in. (7.6 x 2.9 x 1.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.196. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.196.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 86.224.196.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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