Nazca Polychrome Bowl Depicting a Mythical Being

Pre-Columbian, South Coast of Peru, Nazca Culture, ca. 400–650 CE

Dimensions: 5 ¾ in. diameter x 4 ⅜ in. height

A striking hand-painted polychrome bowl from the Nazca culture of southern Peru, vibrantly decorated in tones of red, cream, orange, and brown. The wide, flaring form is encircled by a dynamic depiction of a mythical composite creature, combining traits of animals such as the serpent and feline—beings often associated with fertility, water, and the supernatural forces that animated the Nazca world. Stylized scrolls and geometric registers enhance the composition, evoking movement and ritual vitality.

This vessel exemplifies the Nazca mastery of painted ceramics during the middle to late phases of the culture, showcasing their distinctive aesthetic balance between abstraction and sacred symbolism. Minor surface wear, mineral deposits, and small rim losses attest to its great age and authenticity.

Provenance:

From the collection of Dwayne Hafner, World War II veteran (top-turret gunner, North Africa and Sicily campaigns). After returning to the United States, Mr. Hafner settled in California, where his lifelong passion for archaeology led him to become a founder and president of the Pacific Coast Archaeological Society in the early 1960s. This piece was presented to him by local people during one of his many field trips in the 1960s.