Stirrup-spout jar in the form of a bird
Maker: Chimu-Inca culture
Medium:Clay
Geography: North Coast, Peru
Date: 1470-1532 AD
Period: Late Horizon Period
Dimensions:16.5 × 15.5 × 8.5 cm
Object number: 952.197.14
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. C.I. Grierson
Gallery Location:Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific
DescriptionAfter the Inca conquered much of the Andes in the fifteenth century AD, potters often incorporated imperial themes into the objects that they made. In this case, a Chimu potter made a typical bird vessel with a stirrup spout. The form was nearly identical to earlier versions that showcased local fauna, but in this case the slip and decoration are different. The geometric patterns that decorate the bird are an Inca concept.
