Tiwanaku. Tray for Hallucinogenic Snuff, 400–1000. Wood, 2 1/2 x 1 11/16 x 6 1/2 in. (6.4 x 4.3 x 16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 74.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 74.176_bw.jpg)
Tiwanaku. Tray for Hallucinogenic Snuff, 400–1000. Wood, 2 1/2 x 1 11/16 x 6 1/2 in. (6.4 x 4.3 x 16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 74.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.74.176.jpg)
Tray for Hallucinogenic Snuff
Arts of the Americas
Carved wood trays were used by ancient Andean people for the mixing of hallucinogenic snuff made from the pod seeds of the Anadenanthera tree. When inhaled through the nose with tubes, the snuff produced ecstatic trances that enabled shamans to communicate with spirits and ancestors. This carved snuff tray from northern Chile is decorated with two kneeling anthropomorphic foxes. The depressions in the eyes probably once held turquoise inlays. The figures’ pose and tunics decorated with incised designs suggest that they are supernatural beings.
Las tablillas de madera tallada eran usadas por los antiguos habitantes de los Andes para mezclar polvos alucinógenos hechos de las vainas y semillas del árbol Anadenanthera. Al inhalar a través de la nariz con tubos, el polvo producía trances extáticos que permitían al chamán comunicarse con espíritus y ancestros. Esta bandeja tallada para inhalar del Norte de Chile está decorada con dos figuras de zorros antropomórficos. Las depresiones en los ojos probablemente contenían incrustaciones de turquesa. La pose de las figuras y las túnicas decoradas con diseños incisos sugieren que se trata de seres sobrenaturales.
Las tablillas de madera tallada eran usadas por los antiguos habitantes de los Andes para mezclar polvos alucinógenos hechos de las vainas y semillas del árbol Anadenanthera. Al inhalar a través de la nariz con tubos, el polvo producía trances extáticos que permitían al chamán comunicarse con espíritus y ancestros. Esta bandeja tallada para inhalar del Norte de Chile está decorada con dos figuras de zorros antropomórficos. Las depresiones en los ojos probablemente contenían incrustaciones de turquesa. La pose de las figuras y las túnicas decoradas con diseños incisos sugieren que se trata de seres sobrenaturales.
CULTURE
Tiwanaku
MEDIUM
Wood
DATES
400–1000
DIMENSIONS
2 1/2 x 1 11/16 x 6 1/2 in. (6.4 x 4.3 x 16.5 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
74.176
CREDIT LINE
Designated Purchase Fund
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Tiwanaku. Tray for Hallucinogenic Snuff, 400–1000. Wood, 2 1/2 x 1 11/16 x 6 1/2 in. (6.4 x 4.3 x 16.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Designated Purchase Fund, 74.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 74.176_bw.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 74.176_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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