1-388 Inka Plate

Description

Inka plate made of terracotta clay. Plates like this come from the Cuzco Inka style of ceramics. These ceramics were made and used in and around the Inka capital of Cuzco. They were utilized by areas conquered by the Inka Empire. Due to their relationship to the empire, these ceramics become prestige ware. Inka vessels were handmade, with no use of molds. Decorations generally consisted of a repetition of a few basic geometric designs, occasionally bringing in natural motifs like animals, flora, and humans. Most of the ceramic Inka plates can be characterized by a stylized bird head coming from one end, with a pair of bumps coming from the opposite end. Other plates, as shown here, have a circular loop or curved handle where the bird head would be. Some variations have a pair of bumps at both ends or a pair of curved handles at each end. Donnan, Christopher B. Ceramics of Ancient Peru: Exhibition of Ancient Peruvian Ceramics in the Fowler Museum of Cultural History. University of Los Angeles, 1992.