Kero; Paracas Culture, Peru, 700- 300 BC.

Kero; Paracas Culture, Peru, 700- 300 BC.
Terracotta with black glaze.
Measurements: 9 x 14 cm.
Paracas Kero in the shape of an inverted bell, made in black terracotta and decorated with incisions located in the upper zone. These represent schematized skulls. The Paracas culture is the ancestor of the Nazca, with which it shows an evident cultural affinity. Developed in ancient Peru in the period known as the Late Formative or Early Horizon, it developed on the Paracas peninsula, in the region of Ica, between 700 and 200 B.C. Its most outstanding artistic manifestation was textile production, with high quality wool and cotton pieces, although its pottery and basketry also stand out. As for their pottery, the Paracas is recognized as the most complete in its evolution of the entire Andean Formative period. It presents very varied forms, vessels of all kinds, both for use and rituals, as well as anthropomorphic sculptures. Regarding the decoration of these pieces, it generally followed the same scheme: the motifs were delimited with incised lines, usually angular, made when the clay was still wet. After firing the bisque, the polychrome was applied, with resin-based colors, mainly black, red, green, yellow and orange.