These figurines came to QBO via different consigners. They are probably all llamas, although the smallest may be an alpaca. Brass llamas are a common souvenir from Peru as the animals were first bred in South America and are numerous there. The brass castings are a continuation of the metallurgy perfected by people in the region of Machu Pichu, who were crafting sophisticated bronze tools, jewelry and religious items 1,000 years before European contact.
Like cattle or sheep, Llamas are farm and ranch animals, as are their smaller cousins the Alpaca. Around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago they were domesticated from the smaller wild Guanaco, while the Alpaca was domesticated from wild Vicuñas which are known for their exquisitely long, silky wool. Because llamas are the largest and sturdiest of their immediate family, they are used as pack animals, but since they only weigh about 1/3 as much as a horse, they are too small to pull a plow or carry the average adult human rider. Still, the llama is eminently useful as a beast of burden, and as a source of leather, wool, and meat. In a pinch, the small, delicate alpaca can also be used as a pack animal but its main use is its beautiful warm wool. All four of these wild and domestic species are closely enough related to easily interbreed. The baby of any of them is called a “Cria”. And all four share a common prehistoric camel ancestor, so the facial resemblance to modern camels is not a coincidence. Unfortunately they also share with modern camels the habit of SPITTING UP TO 10 FEET when angry, so don’t annoy them!
First brought here in the late 1800s as exotic zoo animals, llamas and alpacas were imported to the U.S. in larger numbers as ranch stock in the 1970s, where they enjoyed such popularity among speculative breeders that an over-abundance of wooly, spitting animals were produced. Fortunately once that bubble burst, their numbers shrunk to meet a more realistic demand (although we don’t seem ready to eat them just yet). Today American bred-alpacas produce wool for artisanal spinners and weavers as do American bred-llamas, who are also used as park pack animals, and on farms as “guard dogs” for herds of goats and flocks of sheep, where they dispatch predatory coyotes by biting, kicking and stomping. Alpacas can’t be kept individually, they need other alpacas around for their mental health, but single llamas will readily bond with their smaller, funny-looking charges if there are no other llamas available to socialize with.
The silver-plated llama here is not ridden by a child but by an adult little person with kyphosis, a spinal deformity that causes a hunch. The piece is an exacting replica of an ancient original. It was produced by Alva Studios, founded by artist Alfred Wolkenberg. Wolkenberg immigrated to Long Island, NY, from Vienna in 1939 and founded the studio in 1948, commissioning artists to reproduce ancient jewelry and sculptures held by prominent museums. Their excellent work was sold by museums across the world. Alva Studios went under in 1986 but pieces marked Alva Museum Replicas are still desirable. This llama replicates a specific figurine made during the reign of the Inca Empire, which stretched to the north of current-day Quito, in Ecuador, south past Santiago in Chile, and from the eastern coastline all the way inland up into the Andes mountain range. The Empire lasted from the 1200s, B.C.E. to the late 1500s, when Spanish Conquistadors invaded. In Incan culture people born with physical differences were recognized as having special connections to the deities and held elevated, protected status. This little man and his llama have outlasted at least two mighty empires, so who’s to say they were wrong?
Tuesday Treasures was started by our staff member, Jeanne Lusignan. Each week she will be featuring items that have been found at our estate sales. If you would like to submit a treasure for Jeanne to feature in a future installment of “Tuesday’s Treasures”, please follow the button below and send us an email! Please attach a few photos of your treasure in a beautiful setting as well as any details you have about your item such as manufacturer, use, age, region of origin. If you don’t know about the piece, that’s okay! We still might be able to research it for you! Don’t forget to tell us what makes this item such a treasure to you!