Spoon with Long-Tailed Puma on Handle Possibly 1450 - 1532

This is an Inca spoon with a long-tailed puma on the handle, made from carved wood. Notice how the vertical composition is articulated through the sinuous form of the long-tailed puma, its body coiled around the spoon’s shaft. The artist has used the natural grain and color of the wood to emphasize a tactile connection to the environment. The puma, perched at the top, serves not only as a decorative element but also as a symbolic guardian, its gaze directing our attention. Consider the semiotic weight of the puma within the Inca culture – a symbol of power, agility, and intelligence. Its presence transforms a mundane object into a potent cultural artifact. The interplay between the functional form of the spoon and the sculpted figure invites contemplation on utility and artistry. Ultimately, the spoon operates on multiple levels, it serves as a tool, a symbol, and a work of art that blurs the boundaries between the practical and the sacred.