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Double-Spout Vessel

Arts of the Americas

A common motif in Nasca art is the Anthropomorphic Mythical Being, or “masked god,” interpreted by scholars as a symbolic representation of the powerful spirits residing in nature. On the vessel seen here, the being is associated with agricultural fertility, as indicated by the many multicolored peppers depicted on its body. The figure holds two trophy heads in one hand and a club and some peppers in the other. Decapitation and the shedding of blood were associated with cultivation and the regeneration of plants. The figure is also shown wearing a hammered-gold mouth mask with snake imagery similar to the one displayed here. Snakes were linked to fertility and water cults.
CULTURE Nasca
MEDIUM Ceramic, pigments
  • Place Found: South Coast, Peru
  • DATES 325-440
    PERIOD Early Intermediate Period
    DIMENSIONS 6 x 7 x 7 in. (15.2 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 86.224.15
    CREDIT LINE Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Ceramic vessel with double-spout and bridge handle and decorated with two classic Nasca figures with orange mouth masks, light brown protruding tongues, and light brown forehead ornaments on a white background,. The upper part of each face is deep red. Each figure clutches a club in proper right hand, and two trophy heads in the proper left. Multicolored peppers in horizontal and vertical arrangements fill portions of the space. Condition: good; the spout and bridge handle are chipped and have been repaired; some flaking of pigment in these areas and across surface; and the number "718" is painted on the bottom. Label from "Life, Death, Transformation" Exhibition, 2013: A common motif in Nasca art is the Anthropomorphic Mythical Being, or “masked god”, interpreted by scholars as a symbolic representation of the powerful spirits residing in nature. On this vessel the Mythical Being is associated with agricultural fertility, as indicated by the many multicolored peppers depicted on its body. The figure holds a club and peppers in one hand and two trophy heads in the other.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Nasca. Double-Spout Vessel, 325-440. Ceramic, pigments, 6 x 7 x 7 in. (15.2 x 17.8 x 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.224.15. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 86.224.15_side2_PS9.jpg)
    IMAGE side, 86.224.15_side2_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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