Sculptural bottle. Early Nasca. Ceramic. 35,2 x 19,5 cm (INC-MNAAHP, C-54262)

Modeled orca

The orca motif appears here sculpted as a bridge-handled bottle typical of the Nasca ceramic style. In one of its “hands” the whale holds a severed human head by the hair, reflecting not only how feared this marine mammal was, but also the supernatural power it was believed to possess.