Whistle in the Form of an Animal
| Culture | Chancay |
|---|---|
| Title | Whistle in the Form of an Animal |
| Date | 1000–1450 |
| Medium | Clay and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 3 1/2 × 6 × 2 7/8 in. (8.9 × 15.2 × 7.3 cm) Overall: 3 1/2 x 6 x 2 7/8 in. (8.9 x 15.2 x 7.3 cm) |
| Credit Line | Collection of Jose Lios de Matute (d'99), gift of David Henry Jacobs, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 2011.349 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A whistle in the form of a cow with stripes on its body.
Chancay ceramic animals such as cows, llamas, and lambs are commonly small whistles, as is the case for this example. Little is known about the use of such whistles, with some scholars suggesting that whistles in the form of animals or humans were reserved for ceremonial purposes and others suggesting that they were playthings.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Whistle in the Form of an Animal | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2011.349