Chimù

The Chimú civilisation (1000-1450 A.D.)

This culture rose on the northern coast, slowly subduing cities and populations (except the Chancay culture), up to its heydey in the mid-13th century. It restores and enlarges the network of old Mochica ducts. Its capital, Chan Chan, covers over 20 square km. The walls are decorated with bas-reliefs of geometrical and animal mould motifs. Even more significant than pottery, Chimú jewellery uses already established techniques (welding, alloys, lost-wax casting, filigree), but with an unparalleled variety of forms. Also, mass production is introduced for economic and social reasons, paralleled by the standardisation of shapes and decorations.
The main feature of the Chimú ceramic is the colour black, due to the systematic baking short of oxygen. The most common form is the stirrup globular vase, inherited by the Moche. Also typical are double whistling pots, vases printed in the round depicting animals, people and fruits, and newly introduced plastic figurines between handle and neck.
Around 1463, the Chimú are absorbed by the Inca empire, with new forms such as the arybalos (black-coloured and smaller than the Inca) in the style called Chimú-Inca.

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Cuy-shaped vase with bracket loop

Cuy-shaped vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Cuy-shaped vase with bracket loop

Cuy-shaped vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Two-chamber vase with bracket shaped like a parrot

Two-chamber vase with bracket shaped like a parrot

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Two-chamber vase with bracket shaped like a parrot

Two-chamber vase with bracket shaped like a parrot

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase decorated with wave patterns

Globular vase decorated with wave patterns

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase decorated with wave patterns

Globular vase decorated with wave patterns

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a salamander

Vase in the shape of a salamander

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a salamander

Vase in the shape of a salamander

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Two-chamber whistling vase decorated with geometric patterns in relief

Two-chamber whistling vase decorated with geometric patterns in relief

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Two-chamber whistling vase decorated with geometric patterns in relief

Two-chamber whistling vase decorated with geometric patterns in relief

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Discidal flask with two fantastic beings in relief on the bottom of "goose flesh"

Discidal flask with two fantastic beings in relief on the bottom of "goose flesh"

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Discidal flask with two fantastic beings in relief on the bottom of "goose flesh"

Discidal flask with two fantastic beings in relief on the bottom of "goose flesh"

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Lenticular vase decorated with engraved geometric motifs

Lenticular vase decorated with engraved geometric motifs

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Lenticular vase decorated with engraved geometric motifs

Lenticular vase decorated with engraved geometric motifs

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Pot with bracket shaped like a feline

Pot with bracket shaped like a feline

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Pot with bracket shaped like a feline

Pot with bracket shaped like a feline

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Figurine depicting a male character

Figurine depicting a male character

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Figurine depicting a male character

Figurine depicting a male character

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Bronze cob

Bronze cob

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Bronze cob

Bronze cob

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with relief representation of spondylus shells

Globular vase with relief representation of spondylus shells

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with relief representation of spondylus shells

Globular vase with relief representation of spondylus shells

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase with two-chamber bridge loop

Vase with two-chamber bridge loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase with two-chamber bridge loop

Vase with two-chamber bridge loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a bird

Vase in the shape of a bird

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a bird

Vase in the shape of a bird

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle in the shape of spondylus shell

Vase-bottle in the shape of spondylus shell

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle in the shape of spondylus shell

Vase-bottle in the shape of spondylus shell

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Two-chamber vase with bridge loop

Two-chamber vase with bridge loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Two-chamber vase with bridge loop

Two-chamber vase with bridge loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Parcel

Parcel

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Parcel

Parcel

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine between loop and neck

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine between loop and neck

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine between loop and neck

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine between loop and neck

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a parrot with concentric eyes engraved

Vase in the shape of a parrot with concentric eyes engraved

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a parrot with concentric eyes engraved

Vase in the shape of a parrot with concentric eyes engraved

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Flask with shell-shaped side sockets with horizontal lines engraved

Flask with shell-shaped side sockets with horizontal lines engraved

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Flask with shell-shaped side sockets with horizontal lines engraved

Flask with shell-shaped side sockets with horizontal lines engraved

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase representing a jaguar

Vase representing a jaguar

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase representing a jaguar

Vase representing a jaguar

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase with a bracket shaped like a fruit (or a shell?)

Vase with a bracket shaped like a fruit (or a shell?)

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase with a bracket shaped like a fruit (or a shell?)

Vase with a bracket shaped like a fruit (or a shell?)

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine

Globular vase with bracket loop with plastic figurine

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Salamander-shaped vase with bracket loop

Salamander-shaped vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Salamander-shaped vase with bracket loop

Salamander-shaped vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of cucurbitacea (melon)

Vase in the shape of  cucurbitacea (melon)

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of cucurbitacea (melon)

Vase in the shape of  cucurbitacea (melon)

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle shaped like a feline’s head

Vase-bottle shaped like a feline’s head

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle shaped like a feline’s head

Vase-bottle shaped like a feline’s head

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Disc flask decorated in relief with a male character

Disc flask decorated in relief with a male character

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Disc flask decorated in relief with a male character

Disc flask decorated in relief with a male character

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Whistling vessel in the shape of shell "buccina"

Whistling vessel in the shape of shell "buccina"

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Whistling vessel in the shape of shell "buccina"

Whistling vessel in the shape of shell "buccina"

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Oval vase with engraved geometric decoration

Oval vase with engraved geometric decoration

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Oval vase with engraved geometric decoration

Oval vase with engraved geometric decoration

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Ovoid vessel with chamber made up of coiled coils of a snake

Ovoid vessel with chamber made up of coiled coils of a snake

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Ovoid vessel with chamber made up of coiled coils of a snake

Ovoid vessel with chamber made up of coiled coils of a snake

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Fruit-shaped vase (annona cherimolia) with wide lateral opening

Fruit-shaped vase (annona cherimolia) with wide lateral opening

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Fruit-shaped vase (annona cherimolia) with wide lateral opening

Fruit-shaped vase (annona cherimolia) with wide lateral opening

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Vase-bottle shaped like a blade head

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Discidal flask decorated in relief by a stylized bird on a "goose flesh" bottom

Discidal flask decorated in relief by a stylized bird on a "goose flesh" bottom

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Discidal flask decorated in relief by a stylized bird on a "goose flesh" bottom

Discidal flask decorated in relief by a stylized bird on a "goose flesh" bottom

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle with two zoomorphic plastic figures on the sides of the neck

Vase-bottle with two zoomorphic plastic figures on the sides of the neck

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle with two zoomorphic plastic figures on the sides of the neck

Vase-bottle with two zoomorphic plastic figures on the sides of the neck

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a bird

Vase in the shape of a bird

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase in the shape of a bird

Vase in the shape of a bird

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Pot with bracket loop with two small side chambers in the shape of a shell strombus

Pot with bracket loop with two small side chambers in the shape of a shell strombus

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Pot with bracket loop with two small side chambers in the shape of a shell strombus

Pot with bracket loop with two small side chambers in the shape of a shell strombus

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Fruit-shaped pot with bracket loop (pacae = inga fevillei)

Fruit-shaped pot with bracket loop (pacae = inga fevillei)

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Fruit-shaped pot with bracket loop (pacae = inga fevillei)

Fruit-shaped pot with bracket loop (pacae = inga fevillei)

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle decorated with embossed corn cobs

Vase-bottle decorated with embossed corn cobs

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase-bottle decorated with embossed corn cobs

Vase-bottle decorated with embossed corn cobs

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Goblet rattle with globular cup

Goblet rattle with globular cup

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Goblet rattle with globular cup

Goblet rattle with globular cup

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase with bracket shaped as an otaria

Vase with bracket shaped as an otaria

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Vase with bracket shaped as an otaria

Vase with bracket shaped as an otaria

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop

Globular vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop

Globular vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop

Globular vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Globular vase with bracket loop

Globular vase with bracket loop

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Castello D'Albertis - Chimù

Castello D'Albertis - Chimù

Castello D'Albertis Museum of World Cultures

Castello D'Albertis - Chimù

Castello D'Albertis - Chimù