#inca art

[arthistoryanimalia]

Coati effigy vessel Inca style, Acomayo (Department of Cuzco, Peru) c. 1400-1532 Clay & pigment, h18 x w8.50 x d32.50 cm Museo de América No. 08570

The above piece was also just added to Indigenous art section of the coatis in art image bank:

[bronzeageecho]

quipu | c. 1476 - 1532 CE | inca (modern-day peru)

in the museo larco collection

[incognito-princess]

A few of the best 'Inca inspired' masks my 3rd graders made for multicultural day.

(Medium- pasta, beans, spray paint, on poster board)

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

500-year-old Snake Figure from Peru (Incan Empire), c. 1450-1532 CE: this fiber craft snake was made from cotton and camelid hair, and it has a total length of 86.4cm (about 34in)

This piece was crafted by shaping a cotton core into the basic form of a snake and then wrapping it in structural cords. Colorful threads were then used to create the surface pattern, producing a zig-zag design that covers most of the snake's body. Some of its facial features were also decorated with embroidery.

A double-braided rope is attached to the distal end of the snake's body, near the tip of its tail, and another rope is attached along the ventral side, where it forms a small loop just behind the snake's lower jaw. Similar features have been found in other serpentine figures from the same region/time period, suggesting that these objects may have been designed for a common purpose.

Very little is known about the original function and significance of these artifacts; they may have been created as decorative elements, costume elements, ceremonial props, toys, gifts, grave goods, or simply as pieces of artwork.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art argues that this figure might have been used as a prop during a particular Andean tradition:

In a ritual combat known as ayllar, snakes made of wool were used as projectiles. This effigy snake may have been worn around the neck—a powerful personal adornment of the paramount Inca and his allies—until it was needed as a weapon. The wearer would then grab the cord, swing the snake, and hurl it in the direction of the opponent. The heavy head would propel the figure forward. The simultaneous release of many would produce a scenario of “flying snakes” thrown at enemies.

The same custom is described in an account from a Spanish chronicler named Cristóbal de Albornoz, who referred to the tradition as "the game of the ayllus and the Amaru" ("El juego de los ayllus y el Amaru").

The image below depicts a very similar artifact from the same region/time period.

Why Indigenous Artifacts Should be Returned to Indigenous Communities.

Sources & More Info:

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Snake Ornament

Serpent Symbology: Representations of Snakes in Art

Journal de la Société des Américanistes: El Juego de los ayllus y el Amaru

Yale University Art Gallery: Votive Fiber Sculpture of an Anaconda

[memories-of-ancients]

Tiny silver llama, Incan, circa 1400-1534

from The Walters Art Museum

[wisteriasymphony]

frog kwami hasnt been able to get out of my head for months so hopefully designing it will finally let the idea leave. this is Amppa (coming from "hamp'atu", Quechua for "frog"), and my funny idea for them is that their food should be french fries because we have the Inca to thank for potatoes AND fries is one letter off from flies. ok thanks for coming 2 my ted talk

[eggsistential-breakdown]

Was inspired by this post by @mist-the-wannabe-linguist drawing the outfits from this "steal her look" bird post by @tenderanarchist, @inthefallofasparrow, @floral-hydrate, and @octy-in-boots. please click for higher quality or i'll cry

[aru-art]

happy 2nd anniversary to what continues to be the game of all time!! 🪐

[ryuuliskart]

Avian August Day 20: Inca Dove Photo used (c) Jeffery Moore, Macaulay Library

[birdstudies]

November 24, 2024 - Gray-winged Inca-Finch (Incaspiza ortizi) Found in parts of northwestern Peru, these tanagers live in high altitude desert scrub. They eat seeds and other plant foods, as well as insects, foraging in dense vegetation on or near the ground, alone or in pairs. Little is known about their nesting behavior though their breeding season probably starts in May and nestlings and juveniles have been observed from June to September.

[arthistoryanimalia]

#TwoForTuesday :

Ear Ornaments with Ibis Inca: Ica Valley, Peru south coast, 1200-1450 Gold w/ garnet inlay a: 3.5 × 4.6 cm (1 3/16 × 1 13/16 in.) b: 3.2 × 4.5 cm (1 1/4 × 1 3/4 in.) The Art Institute of Chicago 1955.2594 a-b

[incalotlarts]

Bare your fangs

[juniette13]

Tried doing Chasca some justice! Wanted to mix in a cowgirl aesthetic cause the Wild West was super diverse so like why not LOL (I am horrifically obsessed with the Wild West, I just don’t show it too much 💀)

Original design for comparison:

[catbezarias]

daughter of the sun ☀️

repaint of an illustration by jean torton on a mythology book i had as a kid. i always marvelled at those illustrations.

[memories-of-ancients]

A pair of gold beakers depicting birds in a cornfield, Inca, circa 1100-1450

from The Art Institute of Chicago

[gr3ml1ngu7z]

Did i hear bitter exes? ☝️Here’s my design of cyberknife (ft young techno)🙏