A Chimu Culture Wooden Snuff Tray with Fox. Peru ca. 900-1470 AD.The wooden carving rapero

A Chimu Culture Wooden Snuff Tray with Fox. Peru ca. 900-1470 AD.The wooden carving rapero snuff tray with rectangular cavity to hold snuff material, and decorated with a stylised fox wearing a headdress. Provenance: From a French private collection since 1960's. Condition: Good overall with age related patina and wear as expected. Snuff inhaled through tubes from small trays or tablets was common in ancient Peru where hallucinogen use was widespread. Wooden snuff trays have a shallow rectangular cavity at one end and human or animal motifs or a combination of both at the other. The snuff, prepared from leaves, resin, and seeds of various plants dried and finely ground, was used to cure various ailments, to alleviate pain and conditions associated with high altitudes, to provide alertness in war and hunting, and to induce trances during rituals and ceremonies. Size: 13.5x6cm Good overall with age related patina and wear as expected.