GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The stirrup-spout bottle form was the most enduring decorated vessel type on the north coast of Peru. The burnished black vessels were produced through firing in a reducing atmosphere that transforms the mineral-rich clay color into this smooth ebony surface. Popular for over 3,000 years, this dark monochrome surface became nearly ubiquitous on the north coast during the Late Intermediate Period (900–1400 CE) and Late Horizon (1400–1532 CE) in the Sicán and Chimú styles.
The most characteristic element of Chimú bottles are the small applied figurines, often monkeys or birds, that appear at the juncture between spout and stirrup. Chimú vessels also incorporated mold-pressed designs. Principally displaying sea themes, such as fish and seashells, these mold-pressed designs continued through the Late Horizon and early Spanish Colonial period.
Adapted from
- Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1608.61, 1608.65, 1608.104], 2015.
- Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1976.W.228; S.1970.1; 1987.376; 1989.W.235; 2003.28], 2015.
NOTES
- Chimú, Late Intermediate Period, 900–1450 CE, updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13, 10/15/13, 11/29/13, and 05/11/17.
- Fun Facts Source: Junius B. Bird Report, 1/26/1976, p. 17, TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Attribution.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Chimú: AAT: 300017316
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
slip (clay): AAT: 300010459
slip glaze: AAT: 300015110
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
incising: AAT: 300053847
burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869
Historical periods
Late Intermediate period (Pre-Columbian Andean styles and periods): AAT: 300017313
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
bridge spouts: AAT: 300203289
stirrup-spout vessel (containers): DMA
relief: AAT: 300053622
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
triangles (polygons): AAT: 300009806
triangular (polygonal): AAT: 300263833
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
smooth (smoothness / texture): AAT: 300056364
bases (object components): AAT: 300001656
black (color): AAT: 300130920
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
animals (Animalia kingdom): AAT: 300249395
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
houses: AAT: 300005433
geometric abstraction: AAT: 300056509
architecture (discipline): AAT: 300054156
form (composition concepts): AAT: 300056272
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
1976-1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
From 1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of John Wise [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- In his 1976 report, Junius B. Bird, curator emeritus of South American archaeology at the American Museum of Natural History, notes: "Chimu - Late Intermediate Period. R15 Blackware jar, form of house, stirrup spout with bird. Of potential use for exhibiting of architectural material (see also R2, Q59 and Q34)."
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1983.W.229
Category
rules_operator
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General Description
The stirrup-spout bottle form was the most enduring decorated vessel type on the north coast of Peru. The burnished black vessels were produced through firing in a reducing atmosphere that transforms the mineral-rich clay color into this smooth ebony surface. Popular for over 3,000 years, this dark monochrome surface became nearly ubiquitous on the north coast during the Late Intermediate Period (900–1400 CE) and Late Horizon (1400–1532 CE) in the Sicán and Chimú styles.
The most characteristic element of Chimú bottles are the small applied figurines, often monkeys or birds, that appear at the juncture between spout and stirrup. Chimú vessels also incorporated mold-pressed designs. Principally displaying sea themes, such as fish and seashells, these mold-pressed designs continued through the Late Horizon and early Spanish Colonial period.
Adapted from
- Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1608.61, 1608.65, 1608.104], 2015.
- Kimberly L. Jones, PhD, Inca: Conquests of the Andes / Los Incas y las conquistas de los Andes, Label text [1976.W.228; S.1970.1; 1987.376; 1989.W.235; 2003.28], 2015.
Fun Facts
- In his 1976 report, Junius B. Bird, curator emeritus of South American archaeology at the American Museum of Natural History, notes: "Chimu - Late Intermediate Period. R15 Blackware jar, form of house, stirrup spout with bird. Of potential use for exhibiting of architectural material (see also R2, Q59 and Q34)."
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Chimú, Late Intermediate Period, 900–1450 CE, updated by KJones in TMS on 09/23/13, 10/15/13, 11/29/13, and 05/11/17.
- Fun Facts Source: Junius B. Bird Report, 1/26/1976, p. 17, TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Attribution.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Chimú: AAT: 300017316
Geography
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
clay: AAT: 300010439
slip (clay): AAT: 300010459
slip glaze: AAT: 300015110
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
incising: AAT: 300053847
burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869
Historical periods
Late Intermediate period (Pre-Columbian Andean styles and periods): AAT: 300017313
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
ritual vessels: AAT: 300265801
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
bridge spouts: AAT: 300203289
stirrup-spout vessel (containers): DMA
relief: AAT: 300053622
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
geometric patterns: AAT: 300165213
geometric shape: AAT: 300263819
triangles (polygons): AAT: 300009806
triangular (polygonal): AAT: 300263833
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
smooth (smoothness / texture): AAT: 300056364
bases (object components): AAT: 300001656
black (color): AAT: 300130920
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
animals (Animalia kingdom): AAT: 300249395
birds (animals): AAT: 300266506
birds (motifs): AAT: 300375751
houses: AAT: 300005433
geometric abstraction: AAT: 300056509
architecture (discipline): AAT: 300054156
form (composition concepts): AAT: 300056272
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]
1976-1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
From 1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the Nora and John Wise Collection, bequest of John Wise [1], [2]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1983.W.229
source file
object_notes_3_b-0015.xml.nores