A small brass llama acquired at the Calle de las Brujas, the witches' market of La Paz, Bolivia. The yarn tied at its neck is not decoration. It was set by a practitioner at the market, and it is the working part of the object.

In Aymara tradition the llama is a figure of prosperity and protection, kept for the home and bound up with the offerings made to Pachamama, the earth mother. A llama charm is meant to be present in the household it looks after rather than hidden away.

The green and yellow of the yarn belong to a color language far older than any single charm. In the Aymara tradition carried in the Wiphala, the Andean flag, green holds the meaning of production and abundance and yellow the meaning of energy. The tie does not declare its own purpose, and From The Andes does not assign it one beyond what the practitioner intended.

The brass figure stands 3 inches tall and 2 inches long. The polished metal holds the light while the yarn breaks it with color. It reads as a deliberate object, small enough for a shelf and weighted enough to mean something on it.

Details

• Object: Brass llama charm with tied yarn
• Origin: La Paz, Bolivia
• Acquired: Calle de las Brujas, the witches' market
• Material: Brass, with yarn tied by a market practitioner
• Dimensions: 3 in. tall x 2 in. long
• Tradition: Aymara prosperity and household figure

Where to Keep It

Unlike an amulet kept out of sight, a llama charm is meant to be seen in the space it watches over. Set it where the household gathers or where money moves, on a shelf, a counter, a desk, or an entry table. Give it a clear spot rather than burying it in a display.

FAQ

Where is it from?
La Paz, Bolivia. It was acquired at the Calle de las Brujas, the witches' market where charms of this kind are prepared and sold by local practitioners.

What is the yarn?
A tie set by a practitioner at the market. It is the working part of the charm, not a decorative finish.

What do the colors mean?
In the Aymara color tradition expressed in the Wiphala, the Andean flag, green stands for production and abundance and yellow for energy. The yarn follows that broader tradition rather than a meaning assigned to this single piece.

What does the llama represent?
In Aymara tradition the llama is a figure of prosperity and protection, kept as a charm for the home and connected to offerings made to Pachamama.

What size is it?
Roughly 3 inches tall and 2 inches long. Brass, with green and yellow yarn tied at the neck.

Acquired at the Calle de las Brujas for From The Andes