On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Heart-Shaped Bottle with Phallic Spout
Not on view
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Múltiples olas de migración de Sudamérica a las Antillas han sido identificadas por arqueólogos debido a la presencia de distintos estilos de alfarería. Las vasijas tempranas de las Antillas mayores sirven como testigos de la creatividad de los migrantes, quienes las pintaron con diseños geométricos. Posteriormente, los alfareros taínos realizaron representaciones de cemíes y animales con diseños abstractos modelados en arcilla. El cuenco en forma de figura antropomorfa y la botella grande con espiga en forma fálica pueden referirse al cuerpo humano como un recipiente para sustancias nutritivas y la fertilidad sagrada.
Archaeologists have recognized migrations from South America to the islands through the presence of distinct ceramic styles. Early pottery vessels from the Greater Antilles testify to the creativity of migrants from the mainland who utilized geometric designs. Later Taíno pottery features humanlike and animallike zemí imagery represented by abstract motifs. The bowl in the shape of a reclining figure and the large unpainted bottle may refer to the human body as a vessel for sacred fertility and nourishing substances.
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