Ceramic Vessel

This ceramic vessel was collected in 1838 in Peru, South America by Lt. Charles Wilkes, who led the United States Exploring Expedition, the first American scientific expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Objects collected from that expedition became some of the founding objects of the Smithsonian Institution.

Double-chambered, buff ceramic whistling vessel which is decorated in red and white. The front chamber is in the shape of a squatting figure playing panpipes and holding a rattle. The figure is connected via an arched bridge to a rear bottle-shaped chamber which has a stamped decoration around the spout. Has original Peale tag. publication: USNM annual report 1896, Thomas Wilson, p. 657, fig. 316. Exhibited Magnificent Voyagers, National Museum of Natural History, 1985-86. Exhibited sites "Magnificent Voyagers," 1987-89. Old catalogue card notes that, "blowing in the spout produces the note 2c sharp, a stronger blast 2d sharp. Upham."