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
