This small yet striking effigy represents a female figure from the Nazca culture of ancient Peru, dating between 200 BCE and 500 CE.

Carved from a sperm whale tooth, the piece demonstrates the Nazca’s refined skill in working with organic materials. The figure’s eyes are inlaid with shell, giving it a vivid, lifelike presence, while actual human hair is attached to the head, enhancing its realism and symbolic power.

Standing only 7.6 cm tall, the effigy embodies both artistry and ritual significance, possibly serving as a ceremonial object or a representation of fertility and identity within Nazca society.

Today, this remarkable artifact is preserved in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, where it continues to offer insight into the craftsmanship and spiritual life of the Nazca people.