Miniature Bowl Incised and Painted with Geometric Motifs Possibly 1400 - 1450

Editor: So, this is "Miniature Bowl Incised and Painted with Geometric Motifs," dating back to possibly between 1400 and 1450. It’s currently at The Art Institute of Chicago, and seems to be made of ceramic. It’s, well, tiny! I find the geometric designs quite intriguing, like an ancient puzzle box. What story do you think it whispers? Curator: Ah, yes, a whisper from across the centuries. To me, this little bowl feels incredibly personal. Imagine holding this object in your hand—its size alone invites intimacy. I wonder about the person who made it, someone from the Inca culture patiently etching those geometric shapes. I'm drawn to how tactile the medium is; it makes me consider what was put in it. I suspect it was treasured for its symbolic meaning as much as any utilitarian purpose, and the maker used it to encode some personal cosmology, a world they were familiar with. What do you notice about the shapes themselves? Editor: They seem deliberately… imprecise? Almost like a child's drawing, but imbued with a certain intention. Not everything lines up! I had initially expected things to be far more polished. Curator: Exactly! And isn't that wonderful? That slight imperfection reveals the hand of the artist, the human touch. It connects us to them, allows for our humanity to recognise itself in theirs. Perhaps perfect symmetry wasn't the goal. Perhaps it's about the act of creation, about imbuing an object with meaning, connecting oneself to their gods or simply with oneself, or honouring ancient, communal symbols and forms. What purpose might such a small bowl have had, do you think? Editor: Maybe something ceremonial? Like a container for precious seeds or pigments? Curator: Perhaps! Its smallness might suggest something concentrated, potent. Food for thought – literally or metaphorically! I’m thinking that it has more personal resonance now for me than when we began. Editor: I agree. Thinking about it as someone's personal universe really opens it up. Thanks for sharing your view.