Bottle in form of a Woman's figure holding a human head . Upper body of polished cream slip. Lower area of dark red with a band of stylized human heads painted in polychrome. Nose, teeth arms, and accessory head modelled, other details painted. The spout, emerging from back of shoulders, is a bridged to top of head by a narrow band which forms the handle of jug. Rounded bottom, stand.

Vessel in the form of a man, 3rd century BCE - 6th century CE

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Clay, pigmentsexpand_more

The William Hood Dunwoody Fundexpand_more  42.61.6

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This man wears face paint and a turban that are typical of Nazca adornments. Although his body is shapeless, his teeth are finely detailed, as is the trophy head in his hands. The painting surrounding the vessel's lower half is an elegant rendering in many colors of fish, starfish, and octopuses.Carefully preserved heads have been found in Nazca burials. Shown in art throughout the Nazca era, they are called trophy heads because they are assumed to be the products of war. Whether these heads represented conquered peoples or were associated with a ritual use is unclear.

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Details
Title
Vessel in the form of a man
Role
Artist
Dimension
7 in. (17.8 cm)
Accession Number
42.61.6
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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Bottle in form of a Woman's figure holding a human head . Upper body of polished cream slip. Lower area of dark red with a band of stylized human heads painted in polychrome. Nose, teeth arms, and accessory head modelled, other details painted. The spout, emerging from back of shoulders, is a bridged to top of head by a narrow band which forms the handle of jug. Rounded bottom, stand.