Cleveland Museum of Art

Vessel in the Shape of a Figure

Date

1000–1460s

Medium

earthenware with painted slip

Culture

Peru, Central Coast, Chancay sytle, 12th-15th century

Department

Art of the Americas

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This seated figure carries a stag over his shoulders, its antlers now missing and its tongue lolling out in death. That the stag is destined for more than dinner is suggested by the human's pursed lips--perhaps the kiss-like expression of reverence that the later Inka made when approaching a sacred shrine. The animal, then, may be an offering. The two bags painted on the figure's back may be for coca leaves, also very important for rituals. In comparison to earlier ceramics, the Chancay style seems less fine both artistically and technically. yet as this vessel proves, the best Chancay ceramics have appealing charm, in part because of their bold brown-on-white color scheme.

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