Small Bowl Depicting a Row of Abstract Trophy Heads c. 180 - 500

This small Nazca bowl, dating back to between 180 and 500 CE, is decorated with a row of abstract trophy heads. The heads are depicted in a stylized manner with large, rounded eyes and prominent noses. The bowl's surface is painted in red, black, white, and yellow, creating a vibrant contrast that would have made it a striking object in ancient Nazca society. This piece is an example of the intricate and often macabre imagery found in Nazca ceramics. The trophy heads, though stylized, likely represented real human heads and could have been used in rituals or as symbols of power and authority. Today, the bowl is part of the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.