Vessel in the form of a seated warrior,

330–430 CE

Only a small percentage of Nasca ceramics were finely painted, with a smaller subset modeled into naturalistic forms. Within this extraordinary group of ceramics, human representations were among the rarest subjects. The bridge-spout vessel displayed at the top presents two men, identifiable as warriors by their spear-throwers and darts. The vessel on the lower left also represents a warrior holding the same weapons across his chest. He shares the checkerboard tunic style of one of the warriors above. Inka warriors wore this same black-and-white design a millennium after these vessels were created. The seated woman with hands resting on her knees is more fully modeled. Although the figure was created nude, it was dressed in a separate textile skirt and a gauzy capelet (not on display), a red textile necklace, and the necklace of strung bird bones she currently wears.