Jar in the Form of a Figure Holding a Drum and Carrying a Child Possibly 1200 - 1450

This is a blackware jar, made by an artist of the Chimú-Inca culture. It depicts a figure holding a drum and carrying a child. The Chimú people were conquered by the Inca in the late 15th century, and this jar reflects that blending of cultures. The figure's attire and the jar's overall form are characteristic of Chimú art, yet the presence of the child evokes the Inca reverence for familial continuity. The drum, meanwhile, suggests the importance of music and rhythm in ritual and daily life. What I find compelling is the intimacy captured here. The bond between parent and child is universally understood. It transcends cultural boundaries, even as the specifics of dress and adornment root the image in a particular time and place. This jar isn't just an artifact; it’s a vessel carrying stories of identity, kinship, and cultural resilience.