Chimu jar with rodents and fish

Dublin Core

Title

Chimu jar with rodents and fish

Description

Object 1608-89 is a rounded vessel with a large opening at the top, accompanied by two small handles. The opening features a lip that projects outwards and then cinches inwards. The handles on the vessel are sculptural; a rodent figure is modeled separately and then applied to the vessel, also called figure applique. The rodents face inwards on either side of the opening and are orientated upwards, with their tails protruding out and down the sides of the vessel. The monochromatic gray surface features burnishing in the lower half to achieve a shiny finish. In contrast, the rectangular panels are not burnished and maintain a dull finish.
Four rectangular panels wrap around the surface of the jar containing intricate patterns. The panels are inset which allows the images to project slightly from the surface of the vessel. Each panel is identical, containing an image of a fish, all of which face the same direction. Each fish has two fins on top of its body and three fins under its belly and can be identified as paralonchurus peruanus. Surrounding the fish are small dots that project from the surface of the vessel but are contained to the rectangular panel in which the designs are inscribed. Both the fish on the sides of the vessel, and the rodents that serve as small handles feature large round eyes.

Creator

Chimu

Date

Late Intermediate Period (1000-1438 CE)-Late Horizon (1438-1532 CE)

Coverage

Peru--North Coast

Type

Three dimensional object
Ceramic

Format

15 (h) cm.
6 (h) in.

Identifier

1608-89

Relation

Jack Danciger Collection

Source

Art and Art History Collection (AAHC), College of Fine Arts, The University of Texas at Austin

Rights

If you would like to publish this image in print or electronically, please contact the Curator of the Art & Art History Collection, Dr. Astrid Runggaldier, at astrid@austin.utexas.edu.