GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The ceramics of northern Peru are distinguished by their stirrup-shaped spouts, sculptural forms, and monochromatic gray-black color. The vessels associated with the Cupisnique culture often have a highly burnished surface. On one side of this handsome vessel, a reclining jaguar faces the viewer; on the other it turns to face its tail. A step-spiral landscape form surrounds each feline and curves around the projecting column of a four-ribbed cactus. Known as San Pedro, this cactus contains the active alkaloid mescaline, which shamanic folk healers of Peru use today in curing ceremonies. San Pedro is a sacred medicine, potent in itself, but made stronger by association with the powers of animals, spirits, and supernatural beings. The adaptation of the feline and plant forms to the globular shape of the vessel shows the mastery of the potter over the clay.
Excerpt from
Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Stirrup-spout vessel depicting felines and cacti (1976.W.62)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 23.
NOTES
- Cupisnique, Initial Period, 1200–800 B.C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 10/15/13 and 06/19/14.
- Fun Facts Sources: Kathy Windrow, September, 1992, TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Remarks; Junius B. Bird Report, 1/26/1976, p. 38, TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Attribution.
Cultures
Cupisnique (Coast Chavin): AAT:300017270
Early Horizon: AAT: 300017267
Geography
Jequetepeque (Río): TGN: 1125162
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869
clay: AAT: 300010439
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
incising: AAT: 300053847
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
relief: AAT: 300053622
Historical periods
Initial Period: AAT: 300017264
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
stirrup-spout vessel (containers): DMA
bridge spouts: AAT: 300203289
jaguar: AAT: 300310389
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
shaman: AAT: 300218522
shamanism: AAT: 300055999
transformations (concepts / processes): DMA
cacti (cactus / Caryophyllales order): DMA
Caryophyllales (order/plant): AAT: 300375562
San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi/Trichocereus pachanoi): DMA
mescaline (psychedelic alkaloid / hallucinogen): DMA
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
mountains: AAT: 300008795
feline: DMA
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York
From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [1]
[1] 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
- 253365049: UMO. [Caption] Jaguar (Panthera onca). Source: Lea Maimone (own work), Wikimedia Commons, accessed: April 27, 2015, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Panthera_onca#/media/File:Panthera_onca.jpg.
- 253365362: UMO. [Caption] San Pedro Cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi). Source: Mutante (own work), Wikimedia Commons, accessed: April 27, 2015, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_pedro.jpg.
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- The four-ribbed cactus depicted on this vessel is classified as Trichocereus pachanoi, a spineless columnar cactus of the Cereus family; its common names include San Pedro and Huachuma. It contains the active alkaloid mescaline, used today in curing ceremonies. Most San Pedro cacti have seven ribs; those with four are quite rare and are prized for their potency and exceptional healing properties. San Pedro is a sacred medicine, powerful in itself, but made stronger by association with the powers of animals, spirits, and supernatural beings. Felines, especially jaguars, signify power throughout ancient Mesoamerica and the Andes.
- In his 1976 report, Junius B. Bird, curator emeritus of South American archaeology at the American Museum of Natural History, notes: “***116 (111) Mythological composition. Two reclining felines at the base of complex stepped fret related form (compare P34).”
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1976.W.62
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
The ceramics of northern Peru are distinguished by their stirrup-shaped spouts, sculptural forms, and monochromatic gray-black color. The vessels associated with the Cupisnique culture often have a highly burnished surface. On one side of this handsome vessel, a reclining jaguar faces the viewer; on the other it turns to face its tail. A step-spiral landscape form surrounds each feline and curves around the projecting column of a four-ribbed cactus. Known as San Pedro, this cactus contains the active alkaloid mescaline, which shamanic folk healers of Peru use today in curing ceremonies. San Pedro is a sacred medicine, potent in itself, but made stronger by association with the powers of animals, spirits, and supernatural beings. The adaptation of the feline and plant forms to the globular shape of the vessel shows the mastery of the potter over the clay.
Excerpt from
Bonnie Pitman, ed., "Stirrup-spout vessel depicting felines and cacti (1976.W.62)," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2012), 23.
Fun Facts
- The four-ribbed cactus depicted on this vessel is classified as Trichocereus pachanoi, a spineless columnar cactus of the Cereus family; its common names include San Pedro and Huachuma. It contains the active alkaloid mescaline, used today in curing ceremonies. Most San Pedro cacti have seven ribs; those with four are quite rare and are prized for their potency and exceptional healing properties. San Pedro is a sacred medicine, powerful in itself, but made stronger by association with the powers of animals, spirits, and supernatural beings. Felines, especially jaguars, signify power throughout ancient Mesoamerica and the Andes.
- In his 1976 report, Junius B. Bird, curator emeritus of South American archaeology at the American Museum of Natural History, notes: “***116 (111) Mythological composition. Two reclining felines at the base of complex stepped fret related form (compare P34).”
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- Cupisnique, Initial Period, 1200–800 B.C.E. (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 10/15/13 and 06/19/14.
- Fun Facts Sources: Kathy Windrow, September, 1992, TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Remarks; Junius B. Bird Report, 1/26/1976, p. 38, TMS, Notes / Text Entries, Attribution.
Cultures
Cupisnique (Coast Chavin): AAT:300017270
Early Horizon: AAT: 300017267
Geography
Jequetepeque (Río): TGN: 1125162
Peru (nation): TGN: 1000056
Process/materials
ceramic (material): AAT: 300235507
burnishing (polishing): AAT: 30053869
clay: AAT: 300010439
coiling (pottery technique): AAT: 300053903
modeling (forming): AAT: 300053130
incising: AAT: 300053847
firing (technique): AAT: 300053887
kilns (ovens / heating equipment): AAT: 300022798
relief: AAT: 300053622
Historical periods
Initial Period: AAT: 300017264
Individuals
Subject terms
vessels (containers): AAT: 300193015
stirrup-spout vessel (containers): DMA
bridge spouts: AAT: 300203289
jaguar: AAT: 300310389
tails (animal components): AAT: 300251800
shaman: AAT: 300218522
shamanism: AAT: 300055999
transformations (concepts / processes): DMA
cacti (cactus / Caryophyllales order): DMA
Caryophyllales (order/plant): AAT: 300375562
San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi/Trichocereus pachanoi): DMA
mescaline (psychedelic alkaloid / hallucinogen): DMA
underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823
mountains: AAT: 300008795
feline: DMA
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York
From 1976: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [1]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
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1976.W.62
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