Mortar; Andean region, pre-Columbian period, 700–400 B.C.

Mortar; Andean region, pre-Columbian period, 700–400 B.C.
Stoneware.
Measurements:
A sculptural mortar in the shape of an animal, designed as a quadruped with a compact body, an upright neck, and a raised head, likely representing an Andean camelid. The piece successfully combines the utilitarian function of the vessel with an animal representation of a distinctly sculptural nature.
The association between grinding vessels and zoomorphic representations is widely documented in the pre-Columbian cultures of the Andes. Among the most notable parallels is a basalt mortar from the Alamito tradition, dated to 700–400 B.C. and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, whose shape depicts a four-legged feline with a deep depression along its back.They would hold a feast to share the meat of the sacrificed animal among the entire community. Another particularly significant parallel is a small llama-shaped mortar, made of stone and likely attributed to the Inca culture, housed in the National Museum of the American Indian and dated to 1450–1540 CE.