Llama Bottle
Unknown Artist
12th–15th century
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
H. 9 7/8 x W. 9 15/16 in. (25.1 x 25.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Containers
Culture
Chimú
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nathan Cummings, 1967
Accession Number
67.167.15
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming *Llama Bottle*, crafted by an unknown Chimú artist between the 12th and 15th centuries, exemplifies the ceramics of Peru's north coast. The Chimú culture, which thrived in the region until their conquest by the Inca around 1470, was renowned for its sophisticated urban centers like Chan Chan and intricate artistry in clay. Standing at nearly 10 inches tall and wide (H. 9 7/8 x W. 9 15/16 in.), this vessel reflects the Chimú's skill in modeling naturalistic forms, with its llama shape capturing the animal's alert head and sturdy body—evident in the tags highlighting animal motifs....