Chancay Crocodilian Vessel
Intricate Details and Artistic Narrative of this
Large Chancay Vessel
It is a gorgeous Chancay vessel of substantial size. Black-on-white paint patterns are throughout the front, back, neck, and looped handles. Solid zigzag nested triangles, circled dots, and step waves are arranged around stylish crocodilian motifs. Chancay, Peru c. 1200 – 1450 AD.
Measures 22″, 55.88cm. The top rim has been reassembled and restored; otherwise, it is intact and in excellent condition.
The Chancay culture, which thrived between 1000 and 1470 AD on the central coast of Peru, is celebrated for its distinctive ceramics, textiles, and metallurgy. Among their ceramic works, large Chancay vessels are particularly notable for their unique characteristics and multifaceted functions.
Large Chancay vessels are generally substantial and often employed for storage or ceremonial purposes. These vessels come in various forms, including jars, urns, and pitchers, typically featuring rounded shapes with wide bodies and narrow necks that sometimes flare out at the rim. The impressive dimensions of these vessels make them significant in archaeological findings and museum collections.
A defining feature of Chancay pottery is its monochromatic style, primarily utilizing shades of cream and black. The decoration on large vessels often includes intricate geometric patterns, stylized anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, and motifs with symbolic or ritual significance. These designs are meticulously painted on the vessel’s surface, showcasing the artisans’ skill in creating detailed and precise imagery. Chancay potters employed coiling and molding techniques to construct their vessels. After shaping, artisans often smoothed and burnished the pottery and then painted it with mineral-based pigments. Some vessels were also incised or stamped before firing, adding texture to their visual appeal.
The functions of large Chancay vessels are diverse. People used many to store food, water, and other essentials. Their size made them suitable for holding substantial quantities, vital for a society dependent on agriculture and trade. The elaborate decoration and considerable size suggest that people used some Chancay vessels in rituals and ceremonies. They may have held offerings or been part of burial practices, as indicated by their frequent discovery in tombs and gravesites. The motifs and figures on Chancay vessels likely had social and symbolic meanings, potentially related to cosmology, mythology, or social hierarchy. These vessels could signify the owner’s status or be used in rituals to communicate with deities or ancestors.
Large Chancay vessels are often found in burial contexts, providing insight into the mortuary practices of the Chancay culture. These vessels, sometimes placed alongside mummies, suggest a role in funerary rites and the afterlife beliefs of the Chancay people. The Chancay culture engaged in extensive trade with neighboring cultures, as evidenced by the presence of Chancay ceramics in distant regions. This trade likely facilitated the exchange of ideas and artistic influences, contributing to the unique style of Chancay pottery. The creation of large vessels required significant technological expertise. Chancay potters demonstrated advanced skills in constructing and decorating their ceramics, reflecting a highly developed craft tradition within their society.
Today, people value large Chancay vessels for their artistic and historical significance. Museums prominently display them, and researchers study them for insights into pre-Columbian Andean cultures. Collectors and researchers alike appreciate these vessels’ beauty and the cultural stories they convey, contributing to our understanding of the Chancay civilization and its contributions to pre-Columbian art.
Price $3,885
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Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases