Nasca Pottery and Nasca Lines
Pottery traditions dating back 2000 years are still carried on in Nasca. Through the ages, hundreds of images etched on the desert floor could be seen only from the sky.
The Nasca culture flourished in Peru from 200BCE to 600CE, and their pottery is known to be one of the finest examples of pre-Columbian art in the Americas. Many of the ceramic pieces found in Nasca burial sites are functional, particularly single or double spouted vessels with depictions of deities or of the same symbols as the geoglyphs (see information below regarding Nasca lines) found in the Peruvian desert.
The pottery pieces were created without molds, using the pinch pot method. Bones of the alpaca were used to smooth out the exterior surface. Pigments created from manganese, iron oxides, hematite, and magnatite were painted on the raw clay using brushes made from children’s hair. To add a glossy look to the exterior, the potter rubbed smooth stones in sweat and burnished the piece before firing. The pieces were placed in a fire pit and brought to a temperature of 1400F degrees.
Pottery is still crafted using traditional methods by some Nasca descendants, and it is often available at Growing Hobby.
The true mysteries of the Nasca culture were discovered in the 1940s with the arrival of airplanes over the Peruvian desert. Geoglyphs commonly known as Nasca Lines had been etched into the surface of the desert 2000 years ago. The lines primarily depict nature: hummingbirds, condors, plants, lizards, monkeys, and whales. More than 300 geoglyphs have been discovered, and with the advent of LIDAR, more are being found on a consistent basis. The Nasca Lines are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can watch a short video about the lines and the pottery connection.
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nasca drinking vessel
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condor shaped ocarina made from Nasca pottery
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Nasca pottery jaguar head
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Nasca pottery vessel in the shape of a monkey
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Nasca double spout and bridge vessel with flying figure
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jaguar head made with traditional Nasca pottery methods
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Nasca pottery vessel in the shape of a jaguar
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turtle shaped ocarina made with traditional Nasca pottery methods
Nasca pottery with 2000 year old symbolism from the Nasca lines
Nasca pottery with 2000 year old symbolism from the Nasca lines
Workshops at Growing Hobby
Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air for your comfort while you shop and attend workshops.