Photograph by B. Bernard
Photograph by B. Bernard
Double-chambered whistling vessels, created by the thousands, have always
been favorite objects among collectors of ancient art. Each has a "blind
spout" in the form of a human head, bird, or other animal. When liquid is
tipped from the chamber with the open spout to the chamber with the blind
spout, air is forced out of a hole behind the blind spout, producing a
whistle. As the water level changes, so does the tone.
40.14.4, mold-made ceramic whistling vessel
Late Chimú (A.D. 1350–1470) or Chimú-Inka
period (A.D. 1470–1532)
Gift of Dr. D. M. MacCornack
The vessel shown above features a personified Spondylus shell, a
female deity associated with the sea and the Moon. This image is a common
one in Chimú pottery. The pot is 18 1/2 centimeters (7 1/4 inches)
tall.
61.10.1, mold-made ceramic whistling vessel
Chimú-Inka period, Peru (A.D. 1470–1532)
Hurd Collection of Peruvian Pottery; gift of S. L. "Bud" Maisel
Because mold-made items dominated Chimú pottery production, it is
possible to find instances of the same vessel shape in different collections.
The vulture-headed bottle shown above has its twin in Spain, at the Museo
de América de Madrid. The Maxwell Museum's example is 17 centimeters
(6 3/4 inches) tall.
61.10.9, mold-made ceramic whistling vessel
Chimú-Inka period, Peru (A.D. 1470–1532)
Hurd Collection of Peruvian Pottery; gift of S. L. "Bud" Maisel
Some vessels, like the one shown above, display relief designs inspired by architectural relief decoration at Chan Chan, and by designs on Chimú textiles. This "whistler" is 14 centimeters (5 1/2 inches) tall. Its relief design, shown in greater detail below, appears to be based on fish.
Photograph by B. Bernard
68.59.113, mold-made ceramic whistling vessel
Chimú-Inka period, Peru (A.D. 1470–1532)
Elizabeth Ayres Kidd Collection of Musical Instruments; gift of
Albert E. Kidd
The pot shown above is 22 centimeters (8 1/2 inches) tall. The next photograph shows the creature on the "blind" spout from a different angle.
Photograph by B. Bernard
68.59.114, mold-made ceramic whistling vessel
Proto-Chimú period, Peru (A.D. 900)
Elizabeth Ayres Kidd Collection of Musical Instruments; gift of
Albert E. Kidd
Our final example is 23 centimeters (9 1/4 inches) tall. As you can see from the second photo, below, the individual is grasping what looks like a child. On closer inspection, however, the "child's" face seems more animal than human, as the second photo below shows.
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Page last revised on March 7, 2011. Please report problems to toh@unm.edu