- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Ceramic Ayacucho reproduction of a church.
- Long description
- Ceramic Ayacucho reproduction of a church. It is hollow and open at the base. The church is roughly rectangular in form with an arched roof, either side of which is a tall, square-sectioned tower. There is a large central cross on the roof flanked by eight decorative architectural elements. The pentagonal front has three open doorways, the central one larger, inside of which are three figures in different poses: the left figure is kneeling with hands together in a praying motion facing inside, the central figure looks out holding an open book and the right figure is standing, facing outwards. The year ‘1963’ is painted above the two outer doorways. Above this is a tier with two square windows and two white crosses in relief, with the number ‘04’ painted between them, followed by another tier with two square windows. The top triangle has a central figure within an alcove, with a bird figure just below. The back of the church has a central doorway with door ajar, flanked by two rectangular windows. Above this are five arched windows. Each of the towers has three arched windows with bells and is topped by a rounded turret with small, cross-shaped windows and finials. There is a clock face with details painted in black on each of the towers. The whole model is painted a yellowish white colour, with detailing and some foliate decoration in red and black paint. [JMC 16/7/2018]
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Quechua
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1964
- Date collected
- 1962 - 1964
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 27/06/2018
- Materials and processes
- Material Pottery, Material Pigment, Process Fire-Hardened, Process Painted, Process Modelled
- Dimensions
- Height: max 375 mm, Width: max 210 mm, Length: max 280 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 2018.107.3
- Research and responses
There is a photograph of a similar church model on p.93 (fig. 5.22) of Dean Arnold's 1993 book on Andean Ceramic production. The accompanying text reads:
“The Ceramic church…comes in a variety of forms, but most usually has two towers. Some tend to be similar in appearance to the twin-towered cathedral in the city of Ayacucho. In 1967, churches were Quinua’s most famous ceramic product…In the commercial artisan market outside of the Ayacucho Valley, these churches are known as “Ayacucho” churches.” (p.91).
Full book reference: Arnold, D.E., 1993. Ecology and ceramic production in an Andean community. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Search terms: Model, Reproduction, Figure
