Ecuador, 1000 - 500 Bc, Chorrera Culture, Anthropomorphic Ritual Vase, Glazed Ceramic

Anthropomorphic ritual vase with double belly

Ecuador
Chorrera Culture, 1000 – 500 BC


Ceremonial vase also called whistling vase with double belly. Composed of a figure of a flute player at the front and a globular body decorated with a long frustoconical neck, both connected by an arched bridge handle. The anthropomorphic figure presents atrophied limbs, the subject grasping an Andean flute in his hands at chin height. The face, classic of the Chorrera culture, presents half-opened eyes in the shape of coffee beans framing a short and flat nose, the holed ears, the helmet-shaped hairstyle completely covering the skull. The bottle-shaped body decorated with geometric lines.

The Chorrera culture developed on the coasts of Ecuador and extended from 1500 to 300 BC, succeeding the Machalilla culture. It is characterized by ceramic production present not only in the coastal region, but also inland. His artistic production reaches a level of expression which will rarely be equaled subsequently and attests to highly mastered manufacturing techniques. Chorrera artists produced alongside functional containers, ceramics reflecting great attention to their environment.

Glazed ceramic with coffee red slip
20 x 21 cm
Restorations, surface wears
Former collection of Mme N, New York, 1986

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