Beautifully combining shape, pattern and texture, this black ware vase is a classic example of Chavin ceramic art. The intricately stylized designs that adorn each side of the vessel relate to Chavin mythology, probably depicting animal combat on a cosmic level. The artist has alternated smooth, highly polished areas with a roughly stippled surface that are a delight to the hand as well as to the eye. The vases bold, sculptural shape appeals to modern sensibilities. The pleasure we find in its presence unites us, however briefly, with the vanished culture that first created it.