Peruvian Kaxinawá wide-mouth jar

Peruvian Kaxinawá wide-mouth jar

Himi Iki Ati ("menstruating do-thing") or Himi Iki Chukati ("menstruating wash-thing")

jar, Kaxinawá, Kensinger, Peru

A wide-mouth jar decorated with four rim tabs. This jar was most likely used by women to wash themselves when menstruating. This class of jar varies in size from three to five inches high and four to seven inches in diameter at its widest point which normally is at the shoulder but occasionally at the rim. Four lugs may be more or less evenly spaced along the rim and the base is frequently flattened. The neck is usually only slightly constricted and the jars themselves are never decorated but are always intentionally blackened inside and outside by firing with wood that produces black oily smoke.

Kaxinawá, Rio Curanja, made by a woman

c. 20th century

Kenneth Kensinger

ceramics, container

Temple University Anthropology Lab

1966-1-223