Feline Vessel
Feline Vessel
Calima, Ilama style
About 1000 B.C.–A.D. 1
Colombia, Upper Cauca River Valley
Earthenware
Bequest of Robert J. Stroessner, 1992.59
The most characteristic and recognizable Calima ceramic form (the alcarraza) is a small jar with short diverging spouts separated by an arched handle. The body of the jar may be simple and round, or modeled in the form of humans, fruit, architecture, or animals, such as this feline example. The animal has a small head with a wide, toothy grin, and a round, inflated body supported by short, sturdy legs. The surface is covered with delicate crosshatched and stippled patterns that may represent a jaguar’s pelt. The patterns are also reminiscent of textiles or basketry, but such organic materials are rarely preserved in Colombia’s humid climate.
