Skip main navigation
The Brooklyn Museum

Collections: Arts of the Americas




Double Spout and Bridge Bottle

Double Spout and Bridge Bottle. Peru. Nasca artist, circa 450–700. Ceramic, pigments, 8 x 8 x 8 in. (20.3 x 20.3 x 20.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Henry L. Batterman Fund, 41.426

The ancient Nasca culture, centered on the south coast of Peru, was known for its fine polychrome pottery. In this desert-like region, the Nasca produced imagery that often related to the worship of supernatural beings who assured agricultural success. The highly abstract mythological figures that appear on the upper register of this bottle are most likely connected to these religious beliefs. The band of faces on the lower register may represent women or, alternatively, warriors with face painting under their eyes.

Return
Next