Four fruit elements Chimu stirrup spout bottle

Four fruit elements Chimu stirrup spout bottle

When looking at the object, it can be interpreted that the bottle was created to resemble metal or a hard material. The bottle has a basic stirrup spout form. Its shape is created with four half ovals on each of its four sides creating an overall circular form that almost looks like one large fruit. It is evident that the shapes are supposed to resemble fruit because of their common round fruit shape. The fruit looks as if it could be some kind of tomato or pear. On the top of the two fruits that are not attached to the spout, there are stems to resemble the top of a fruit.

The dark brown/dark gray color gives the bottle a hard worn out metal look which is common in Chimu pottery. The shiny texture and reduced atmosphere shows that this piece was burnished very well and leaves the surface with a smooth finish. There is no pattern or rough texture on the surface which gives the pot a basic and functional look. The style of this piece is common in Chimu pottery because of its dark color and shiny finish that are achieved through high temperatures in a shut kiln.

Chimu

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

Peru--North Coast

Three dimensional object

Ceramic

23.5 (h) cm.

9 (h) in.

1608-97

Jack Danciger Collection

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

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.