Blackware Incense Burner with Relief Depicting Felines Possibly 1200 - 1450

This blackware incense burner, crafted by the Chimú people, is adorned with feline motifs. These creatures were paramount symbols, embodying power, agility, and the potent forces of the natural world. Consider how these felines echo through time. From the lions guarding ancient Mycenaean gates to the sleek panthers of Art Deco, the feline form recurs, each time imbued with the spirit of its age. The Chimú artists captured not just the animal's likeness, but its essence—an essence that continues to resonate across cultures. The feline motif, deeply ingrained in the collective subconscious, evokes primal emotions and instinctive reactions. It speaks to our innate understanding of strength and stealth, emotions that transcend time and place. These symbols progress non-linearly, evolving and reappearing. They invite us to trace their transformations and understand how the past continues to shape our present.