Human figurines with facial paint and musical instruments, holding a conch shell trumpet

In Cupisnique art, man is represented as the center of the earthly world, sometimes associated with cult ceremonies to honor the gods. This is demonstrated by this ceramic figurine, which shows a carefully dressed figure ornamented with facial paint. Similar pieces have been documented in various Cupisnique sites, but the only ones that have archaeological source data are those recovered from looted cemeteries in Puémape and Urricape –in the Jequetepeque Valley– between 1989 and 1990. These objects are characterized by the half-plane depiction of the faces, in which the irises, nostrils and mouth are formed by simple incisions and pinholes. Some were made to be used as musical instruments (ocarinas), others, including this piece, are purely sculptural, and usually represent people carrying Strombus galeatus conch shells, or playing flutes. (CE)