Art Expose

On December 13, 2016 I had the privilege of exploring a "Chimu Effigy Vessel" from the Krikorian Collection at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Art History Gallery. The vessel is an enigmatic object in that it has all the surface features of an authentic pre-Colombian vessel. It also has a hole from a barreto, or iron bar used for sounding soft earth in search of huacos, ancient pots. However, the composite face on the side of the vessel mixes Early Horizon/Early Intermediate Period (1000 BC- AD700) northern imagery with Middle Horizon (AD 500) highland imagery with northern Late Intermediate Period (ca. AD 1300) imagery. There's nothing preventing these three kinds of images to have been mixed by a pre-Colombian artisan; but it is very unexpected to see them together. Perhaps future research into the history of this object as well as residues on its surfaces - particularly interior surfaces - will illuminate the history of this mysterious object.

UWM Art Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Krikorian, 1986.006.07

Thanks to UWM Art Collection staff for the photo.