Beaker Depicting a Costumed Performer Holding Decapitated Head c. 180 - 500

This beaker depicting a costumed performer holding a decapitated head was created by the Nazca people using ceramic materials and painted with a variety of pigments. The vessel's surface is smooth, a result of the fine clay and burnishing techniques employed. You can see that the artist used red, black, white, and brown pigments, carefully applied to delineate the figure’s features and costume. These pigments were likely derived from minerals and plants found locally, a testimony to the Nazca people's deep understanding of their environment. The beaker form itself would have been created by hand using the coil method. The figure’s elaborate attire and the inclusion of a severed head tell us about the significance of ritual and performance in Nazca society. It also gives insight into the labor involved in extracting and processing raw materials, as well as the skilled craftsmanship required to form and decorate the vessel. When we look at this beaker, we are seeing a synthesis of material knowledge, artistic skill, and cultural belief – a potent reminder that art and craft are deeply intertwined.