Miniature Ceremonial Vessel (Aryballos) Possibly 1450 - 1532

Curator: I'm immediately struck by its rather charming asymmetry; it gives the piece so much personality. It looks like a friendly little guy, waiting for a hug! Editor: That's an interesting read! We're looking at an object titled "Miniature Ceremonial Vessel (Aryballos)," potentially created between 1450 and 1532. It's attributed to the Inca people, and the museum tells us that it is made of terracotta, a ceramic material. Curator: Ceramic, you say? Up close, you can really appreciate the imperfections in the terracotta; it has this wonderful warm, earthly feel. I love the stripes that give it rhythm. It almost makes me want to dance around with it. Editor: Thinking about its manufacture helps explain some of that texture. Terracotta, as a relatively accessible material, suggests a broader participation in art production. Did skilled artisans craft these solely for elite ritual use, or did craftspeople throughout the empire produce such objects, thus embedding this geometric abstraction more deeply in everyday life? Curator: I never considered the everyday nature of these objects! Thinking of them as purely ornamental always felt, somehow, incomplete. Imagining this form in repeated domestic use, as commonplace and vital, lends an almost shocking resonance. Editor: Exactly! And considering it a "Miniature" piece emphasizes its functionality; maybe as a personal, portable ritual item? Or as a replica intended for children to participate in rites of passage and tradition? It also provokes questioning of craft production: How were such pieces commissioned and traded? What role did uniformity play in asserting Inca power? Curator: I can see how considering such things enhances the conversation. And speaking of power, while those strict vertical stripes speak of organized labor, the imperfections also highlight individual workmanship. How fabulous it feels to perceive so much artistic identity still embedded. Editor: A reminder that art isn’t detached from its production. Well, on that note, it’s been lovely to reexamine such assumptions. Curator: Indeed, I'll never look at this, or anything, the same way again! A thrilling reminder that everything comes from someplace.