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Miniature aryballos jar

Artist Pre-Columbian

Date1430-1530 AD

MediumCeramic

ClassificationsContainers

Credit LineGift of Thomas Wilber

Object number1980.1.17

DescriptionThe jar is decorated in polychrome colors of brown, red, cream and black. These jars are quite common, but ours seems in really good condition, and of high quality. Objects of this type and style were manufactured in the Inca capital of Cuzco and distributed throughout the region if the empire; local areas under the Inca power also made vessels of this type, however, their objects were not of as good quality or intricate design; geometric patterning usually takes a precedence over coloristic emphasis; large size aryballoid jars (anywhere from a foot high to man sized) existed throughout the region as well; these large size jars were used to carry water or chicha beer; the smaller replicas were usually placed in grave sites (that is where they were recovered), where they were meant to represent real life in miniature.

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