Nasca Hummingbird and Flower Polychrome Bowl

Nasca Hummingbird and Flower Polychrome Bowl

This object is a naturalistic, mineral-based polychrome vessel from the Early Nasca period (200-400 CE), falling under the larger Early Intermediate Period (200-600 CE). The wide-mouthed ceramic bowl stands approximately six inches tall and could probably be used to hold solids or liquids. It also appears to be a thrown vessel which was slip-painted pre-firing, as is typical of Nasca ceramics of this time. Highly legible depictions of naturalistic elements were common of the Early Nasca.

The bowl is characterized by a smooth, matte surface and 2-dimensional design. The hand-painted flora and fauna iconography represents hand painted hummingbird figures and flowers. These images are surrounded in curvilinear black outline expressing smooth contours. A mirroring pattern of large hummingbirds facing one another is repeated across the center band of the bowl. Two of the hummingbird figures appear to be equally distributing a yellow flower between their beaks. The eyes of the hummingbirds are large and white with a small black pupil, which is typical of Nasca depiction as well. The base of the bowl is characterized by rich burgundy pigmentation, which is repeated on the bodies of the birds and the rim of the bowl. Mineral-based tones are presented in the grays, browns, and whites of the birds’ head and wings. The composition of naturalistic elements heightens the overall legibility of this piece, though certain areas appear to be heavily worn and are missing paint.

Nasca

Early Intermediate Period (200 BCE-600 CE)

Peru--South Coast

Three dimensional object

Ceramic

15 (h) cm.

6 (h) in.

1608-182

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.