Collared Jar Depicting Costumed Ritual Performer Holding Checkerboard Staff c. 180 - 500

This Nazca ceramic jar, dating from c. 180-500, depicts a ritual performer adorned with a headdress and holding a checkerboard staff. The jar, crafted in the Nazca style, is characterized by its vivid polychrome painting that showcases the performer's costume and the intricate patterns of the staff. The Nazca people, known for their elaborate burial practices and advanced irrigation systems, often utilized ceramics to document their rituals and beliefs. This jar, currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to their artistic skill and their rich cultural heritage.