Pedestal Bowl
Pedestal Bowl
Recuay
About A.D. 100–700
Peru, Ancash
Earthenware with colored slips and resist decoration
Gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 1970.246
The Recuay culture of north central Peru was centered in the highlands, including the Callejón de Huaylas. This bowl closely resembles pottery excavated at Pashash, in the department of Ancash, and was likely made in the vicinity of this site. An elite tomb there, possibly that of a woman, contained nearly 300 offerings. Included were dozens of fine ceramics, stone vessels, gold and copper jewelry, and spindle whorls. Pedestal cups and bowls were a common ceramic form, often decorated on both interior and exterior walls.
This bowl was formed of a pale orange clay that was covered with cream-colored slip, then decorated with orange slip paints. After firing, the orange areas were covered with a resist material (to protect them), and additional designs were painted on the cream-colored areas, also using the resist. Next, the vessel was smoked or scorched over a fire, blackening the areas unprotected by the resist. The final step was to wash or rub off the resist, revealing the orange and cream designs.