Ceramic Vessel

This Chimu ceramic vessel was collected in Peru, South America under Lt. Charles Wilkes, leader of the United States Exploring Expedition, the first American scientific and exploratory expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Objects collected from that historic expedition became some of the founding objects of the Smithsonian's anthropology collections.

Light orange-buff ware in the form of a bridge-and spout vessel representing a squash with a figure seated cross-legged at the top and base of the handle. This is a single chambered whistling vessel. Publication: USNM Annual Report, 1896, Thomas Wilson, p. 654, fig. 313. Also USNM proceedings, vol. 60, walter hough, art. 9, pl. 46, fig. 13. Exhibited magnificent voyagers, National Museum of Natural History, 1985-86. The old catalogue card notes that "Blowing in the spout produces the sound 3e, blowing stronger produces 3e sharp. Upham."