Urn Painted with a Geometric Textile-like Pattern Possibly 1100 - 1500

This tall urn with textile-like patterns was made in Carchi, a province on the border between modern-day Ecuador and Colombia. Here, the artist has merged the techniques and aesthetics of pottery and weaving. The painted geometric designs mimic the patterns found in textiles of the region. The motifs could hold symbolic meaning. Triangles and zigzags can represent mountains, rivers, or even social structures, all of which are lost to us now. The urn itself also speaks volumes about Carchi society. The height and careful design suggest it was a valuable item, perhaps used in rituals or to store precious goods. The fact that it’s now in a museum like the Art Institute of Chicago tells another story, one of cultural exchange, colonialism, and the institutionalization of art. To truly understand this urn, we can look to archaeological reports, ethnographic studies, and historical analyses of trade and cultural exchange in the Andes. Only then can we appreciate the full social life of this remarkable object.