Male Coquero Figure
Date400-1532
Mediumpottery and paint
DimensionsOverall: 6 1/2 x 3 5/8 x 5 3/8 in. (16.5 x 9.2 x 13.7 cm)
ClassificationsVisual Works
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Bischoff
Object number84.0246.18
DescriptionThe custom of chewing coca leaves was so ingrained for inhabitants of the Andean slopes that it was not uncommon for a man to carry a wad in his mouth from morning to night. The chewing of the coca leaf produces reduced sensations of hunger and fatigue. The bulge in the cheek of this seated male figure identifies him as a coca chewer. The small pouch (shuspa) worn over his shoulder carries a daily supply of the dried coca leaf. The use of a bench is usually associated with a person of authority or a religious figure.
