Whistle
Unknown Artist
7th–2nd century BCE
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
H. 1 15/16 x W. 1 3/8 x 1 1/4 in. (5 x 3.5 x 3.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Musical Instruments
Culture
Paracas
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979
Accession Number
1979.206.1068
Tags
Art Historical Context
This petite ceramic whistle, crafted by an unknown Paracas artist between the 7th and 2nd centuries BCE, offers a glimpse into the vibrant of Peru's ancient Paracas culture on the southern coast. Measuring just under 2 inches tall, this functional musical instrument exemplifies the Paracas people's mastery of ceramics, a medium they used to create both utilitarian objects and items. The Paracas, predecessors to the Inca, were renowned for their intricate textiles and mummification practices, but their pottery often served practical and ceremonial roles, blending everyday utility with symbolic ...