19th c. INDIAN Stone Altar Amulet Lake Titikaka Unusually Thick Fetish TM10738

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19th c. INDIAN Stone Altar Amulet Lake Titikaka Unusually Thick Fetish TM10738:
$47.25

AN AUTHENTIC, UNUSUALLY THICK ANDEAN INDIAN
\"ALTAR\" AMULET

Inventory Number: TM10738

Origin: Collected on the Peruvian Puna near Lake Titikaka, Andean countries of Perú and Bolivia, South America.

Description and Background:

This is an authentic hand-carved stone amulet once commonly used by Andean Native Americans for spiritual protection and life enhancement. It represents a stone altar called Misa illa in Aymara and mullu sipja in Pukina. Such amulets were always imbibed with magical qualities. This is a very old and thick example that was hand-cut from a single stone with primitive tools. It is square in shape with a less than flat top and slightly convex bottom. The top has a raised central square with a shallow depression surrounded by a very wide shallow engraved trough which is surrounded by a raised frame integral to the sides of the stone. The trough is filled with older u:ntu grease that is still somewhat pliant. U:ntu is greasy fat, primarily from the chests of male llamas. Fresh llama u:ntu has the hardness of refrigerated butter. It is white or pinkish in color, a little less than odorless and is removed in slabs about ½-inch thick to 2-inches thick. Female llamas have nominal chest fat and their u:ntu is not used spiritually. A less valuable and less desirable substitute for llama u:ntu is bovine, or waka u:ntu, which is a little darker in color and has a strong, rather unpleasant odor. U:ntu is an important spiritual substance used in many Andean rituals. It is often rubbed on ceremonial objects and even on the hands, arms and faces of people participating in rituals. Little effigies are modeled from u:ntu into animal forms such as llamas and burned in sacrificial altar offerings. Usually once a year u:ntu is ceremonially applied to certain ritual objects including fetishes and amulets for their protection. When applied to stone, u:ntu changes color with age. Initially it has a semi-transparent, light gray or off-white color that with age changes to light brown or yellow then dark brown and eventually black. This is a nice and somewhat unusual misa amulet for its thick shape and wide grooves. It was certainly an important and powerful object for its owners.

Approximate Age: Late-19th century to early-20th century.
Materials: A marble (alabaster)-like stone with variegated oak colors and substantial dark brown splotches. .
Approximate Size: 1 3/8 inches by 1 1/4 inches by 5/8 inch thick.

Condition: EXCELLENT, worn condition.

The surfaces are smooth and polished from age and handling. There is thick, vintage u:ntu residue in the engraved cavities and the four sides of the stone have very dark u:ntu deposits. There are no chips, cracks or broken sections. One corner has an irregular dent that we believe was natural to the stone blank before it was sculpted.

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AKATAKSA RETURN POLICY

no longer allows us to automatically accept returns in exchange for merchandise. However, WE WILL ACCEPT RETURNS IN EXCHANGE FOR ITEMS IN OUR STORE INVENTORY [buyer pays return shipping within three days of receipt]. In 17 years on , we\'ve had less than half a dozen returns. Our monthly sales are extremely important to us and we simply cannot afford to offer money-back returns. WE PROMISE TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ASSURE THAT YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH YOUR PURCHASES.

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AKATAKSA \"DATING\" TERMS:

PREHISTORIC, PRE-COLUMBIAN, ANCIENT = Before about A.D. 1500
18TH CENTURY = A.D. 1700 to 1799.
19th CENTURY = 1800 to 1899.
TURN OF THE 19TH CENTURY = 1890 to 1910.
EARLY 20TH CENTURY = 1900 to 1933.
MID-20TH CENTURY = 1934 to 1966.
LATE-20TH CENTURY = 1967 to 1999.
TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY = 1995 to 2005.
EARLY 21ST CENTURY = 2000 to Present.
COLONIAL = A.D. 1532 to 1825.
ANTIQUE = Over 50 years old.
VINTAGE = Over 30 years old.
CONTEMPORARY = Made in the last 5 years.
CIRCA = \"Approximately/around/within a few years of.\"

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