Water Jar with Human Features
Artist:
Unknown
Place made:Peru
General region:South America
Culture: Chimú or Inca culture
Period: Pre-Columbian
Date: ca. 1450
Medium: Painted earthenware
Dimensions:
h. 8 11/16 in. (22 cm); diam. 6 11/16 in. (17 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. A. A. Seeligson, Sr.
Object number: 77.1107
Label Text
This vessel, a variation of the Inca "arabello" or water jar, represents a hunchback wearing a woven cape over the back to cover his hump. The front is decorated by a series of black bands passing from handle to handle underneath the arms. On the right side of the rim, there is a small lug and a similar one was once located on the chipped left side.
When vessels were carried on the back, a rope was passed through the handles that secured around a lug supplied for that purpose. The Inca ceramic forms were so highly conventionalized that the lug was placed on all sizes of vessels, even on the small example seen here.
When vessels were carried on the back, a rope was passed through the handles that secured around a lug supplied for that purpose. The Inca ceramic forms were so highly conventionalized that the lug was placed on all sizes of vessels, even on the small example seen here.
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
