Seated Figure Playing an Instrument (Primary Title)
Seated Figure Playing Instrument (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The turban this musician wears is made of textile straps similar to turbans seen on other ceramic pieces included in this gallery. Such headwear commonly appeared on West Mexican figurines and on Moche, Chancay, and Nazca vessels from Peru.
Many cultures believed music to be the sound or voice of the gods. Shamans or ritual performers commonly played instruments such as the traditional flat rasplike object depicted in this piece as a means of communicating with the spirit world.
Pre-Columbian
Late Formative
Gift of Freeman F. Gosden
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
