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Spatula
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In 1492, when Christopher Columbus sailed into the Caribbean, the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico were inhabited by the Taino people. Taino religious ceremonies often included the snuffing of hallucinogenic herbs to alter the consciousness and facilitate contact with the spirit world. Carved spatulas were used to blend the powdered herbs. After purifying the body through purging the stomach, the snuff was inhaled into both nostrils.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, 10th-15th century |
|---|---|
| Date | 900–1492 |
| Culture / Origin | Caribbean, Greater Antilles, Taino, 10th-15th century |
| Medium | manatee bone |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.); Overall: 19.1 x 3.2 x 11 cm (7 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 4 5/16 in.) |
| Department | Art of the Americas |
| Type | Sculpture |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
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