Accession Number
1982/2.49

Title
Ceremonial Tall Necked Bottle

Artist(s)
Caddo; Mississippian

Artist Nationality
Caddo

Object Creation Date
circa 1250

Medium & Support
black ash firing finish on terracotta

Dimensions
6 1/8 in x 4 1/4 in (15.56 cm x 10.8 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
The lines on this bottle express central Mississippian cosmological beliefs, and indicate that the bottle was used among Caddoan priests. The central circle of the world or sun (here, the neck hole itself) is surrounded by the four directions of the surrounding etched design. If the viewer looks straight on one of these directions from the side, the curved lines and point also suggest a bird form (eyes and beak) looking back. This may have been a falcon, a revered bird among Mississippian warriors and often symbolized in warrior material culture.

Physical Description
Terracotta bottle with a bulbous belly and a long cylindrical neck. Black ash firing finish on entire bottle with ethched geometric design on belly.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
bottle

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Falco (genus)
Mississippian
bottle
bottles