Interaction and Imitation: Chimú Art after the Conquest by the Inka Empire, 1460-1534 Open Access

Siegler, Jennifer Evelyn (2015)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/tb09j634k?locale=en
Published

Abstract

Between 1428 and 1534 CE the Inka conquered the world's largest territory controlled by a single state (5,500 km). The conquest of their main rivals, the Chimú, c. 1460 brought 1,300 km of coastline into the Inka empire. This dissertation provides the first in-depth analysis of Chimú-Inka ceramics. I frame Chimú-Inka ceramics in a comparative approach with Chimú and Inka precedents, tracking these changes in four specific forms: double-to-single spout vessels, urpus, urpu-like vessels, and coquero vessels. Through a comparative analysis of the technological, proportional, and iconographical elements of Chimú-Inka vessels, I argue that the unique blend that emerged from ceramic artists working creatively to balance their North Coast tradition with that of their highland conquerors during this tumultuous period. The distinguishing features of this period were created as a mutually beneficial compromise between the local lords of the North Coast and the Inka regime.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction 1

Study Methodology 14

Selection Criteria 14

Measurement 15

Statistics 16

Iconography 16

Description of the Chapters 18

Chapter 2. Double-to-Single Spout Vessels: The Continuation of a Chimú Form 22

Description of the Sample 22

Development of the Form 24

Technological Style 29

Manufacture 31

Molds 31

Pedestal 33

Surface Treatment 35

Stamped Elements 37

Proportional Analysis 37

General Size 37

Rim Diameter 38

Double-to-Single Spout 39

Iconographic Analysis 42

Fauna Motif Vessels 44

Camelids 45

Hairless Doges 48

Felines 52

Maritime Motif Vessel 54

Fish 55

Birds 58

Spondylus 60

Wave Theme 63

Boats 63

Flora Motif Vessels 66

Squash 67

Maize 70

Pepinos 73

Pacae/Anadenanthera 76

Geometric Motif Vessels 80

Plain Motif Vessels 82

Human Motif Vessels 83

Mace Head Motif Vessels 85

Adornos 87

Conclusion 89

Chapter 3. Urpus: The Introduction of an Inka Form on the North Coast 90

Description of the Sample 90

Development of the Form 92

Technological Style Analysis 93

Manufacture 93

Coil Method 93

Mold Method 95

Hand Modeling 97

Surface Treatment 101

Inka Surface Techniques 102

Chimú-Inka Surface Techniques 102

Proportional Analysis 105

General Size 105

Rim Diameter 107

Iconographic Analysis 109

Inka Iconography 112

Inka Plain Vessels 113

Inka Geometric Vessels 114

Horizontal Bands 115

Vertical Bands 118

Inka Flora Vessels 119

Chimú-Inka Iconography 121

Chimú-Inka Plain Vessels 122

Chimú-Inka Geometric Vessels 122

Horizontal Bands 123

Vertical Bands 128

Chimú-Inka Human Vessels 130

Face-neck 130

Full Figures 133

Chimú-Inka Marine Vessels 136

Chimú-Inka Fauna Vessels 138

Snakes 138

Lizards 141

Caiman 146

Chimú-Inka Flora Vessels 147

Anadenanthera 147

Squash 151

Conclusion 152

Chapter 4. Urpu-like Vessels: Adapting an Inka Form 153

Elongated Urpus 154

Description of the Sample 154

Development of the Form 154

Technological Style Analysis 155

Manufacture 155

Surface Treatment 155

Proportional Analysis 155

Iconographic Analysis 156

Fauna 156

Flora 162

Potatoes 162

Maize 164

Plain 167

Urpu-Pacchas 168

Description of the Sample 168

Development of the Form 169

Technological Style Analysis 171

Manufacture 171

Surface Treatment 172

Proportional Analysis 173

Iconographic Analysis 173

Geometric Vessels 173

Horizontal Bands 174

Vertical Bands 175

Flora 177

Squash 177

Anadenanthera 178

Fauna 179

Human 184

Face-neck 184

Urpus with Handle Variations 187

Description of the Sample 187

Development of the Form 188

Technological Style Analysis 188

Manufacture 188

Surface treatment 189

Proportional Analysis 190

Iconographic Analysis 190

Plain 190

Human 192

Bird 197

Flat-Bottomed Urpus 199

Description of the Sample 199

Development of the Form 200

Technological Style Analysis 201

Manufacture 201

Surface Treatment 201

Proportional Analysis 202

Iconographic Analysis 202

Plain 202

Geometric 203

Human 205

Conclusion 207

Chapter 5. Coquero Vessels: The Revival of a Form 209

Description of the Sample 210

Iconographic Identification 210

Coca Use in the Andes 211

Moche Coca Iconography 216

Chimú Coca Iconography 218

Inka Coca Iconography 218

Colonial Coca 220

Chimú-Inka Coqueros 221

Coca Quid 221 Facial Features 223

Earspools 228

Headband 229

Túcume Coqueros 232

Technological Analysis 239

Manufacture 239

Surface Treatment 241

Proportional Analysis 241

Conclusion 242

Chapter 6. Conclusion 243

Works Cited 253

About this Dissertation

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Keyword
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Committee Members
Last modified

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files