Bowl Carved with Costumed Ritual Figure With Feline and Serpent Attributes c. 180 - 500

This small, ceramic bowl, created by the Nazca culture of ancient Peru, is a striking example of their artistic skill. Dating back to between 180 and 500 CE, the bowl features an incised design of a costumed ritual figure with feline and serpent attributes. The figure is depicted in intricate detail, with its head adorned with elaborate headdress and its body covered in intricate patterns. The bowl, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to the Nazca's mastery of ceramic arts and their fascination with ritualistic figures.