Vessel with Feline Supernaturals with Striped Arms, likely Pampas Cats c. 180 - 500

This vessel depicting feline supernaturals was created by the Nazca people of ancient Peru. Made from earthenware, it was formed by hand, using coils of clay that were smoothed together before being painted with mineral pigments. The designs are not just decorative, but deeply symbolic, speaking to the social and religious beliefs of the Nazca. This vessel's shape and painted motifs indicate that it likely served a ritualistic purpose. The painting is carefully and deliberately applied, using a limited palette of colors derived from the earth. The feline figures are rendered with a graphic style, their striped arms and supernatural attributes suggesting their power. Consider the labor involved in creating this vessel: the extraction and preparation of the clay, the coiling and smoothing of the form, and the careful application of the painted designs. These choices speak to the values and priorities of the Nazca people, and the importance they placed on skilled craftsmanship. Examining the making of the artwork broadens our understanding of its cultural significance.