Single-Spout Vessel with a Monkey Standing on Top Possibly 1200 - 1470

This ceramic vessel, dated to the 13th-15th centuries, was crafted by the Chimú-Inca people of ancient Peru. The vessel is shaped like a rounded gourd with a cylindrical spout rising from the top and a monkey figure standing on the vessel's rim. The monkey's limbs are modeled as handles that allow for carrying the vessel. The work exemplifies the Chimú-Inca skill in ceramics, and the realistic monkey figure highlights the importance of the animal in their iconography. This piece, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, is a fascinating example of pre-Columbian art in the Americas.