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Keru beaker, depicting the Inca and his wife, La Coya

The keru shows the Inca and his wife, "La Coya", both under two separate rainbows. Both rainbows are connected by the head of a jaguar lying at their feet. The mouth of the jaguar is the starting point for the rainbow. Above the two jaguar heads there is a motif showing a shield and above it a helmet. The representation means victory, happiness and prosperity under the rule of the Inca. The jaguar points to war and is interpreted as a guard of the Inca emperor and the fortunes of war represented by him. The "La Coya" holds a kantuta branch in her hand. The keru is divided by a band of tocapus. In the lower half there are further plant representations. The "kerus" are made in the technique of Japanese lacquer work.

Data Provider
Linden-Museum Stuttgart Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde
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Cataloguing data

Cultural attribution
Inka-Kultur
Object type
Ritual object
Dimensions
Höhe: 24 cm, Durchmesser: 20 cm
Material/Technique
Wood, Colour pigment
carved, Lacquer painting
Current location
Linden-Museum Stuttgart
Inventory number
M 30241

Provenance and sources

when
Early colonial period

where
Peru

when
1965
Provenance
This object does not have a confirmed provenance.

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