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AND CAPULÍ (NEGATIVE OF CARCHI)
Integration Period
700 – 1532 A.C.E.
The pastos–farmers, merchants and metalworkers–inhabited Carchi Province in northern Ecuador, from the basin of the Chota-Mira Rivers to the Guáitara River basin in Columbia. They formed a socially stratified group whose levels were distinguished in various ways. It appears that one of these ways was through their ceramics. Three types of pottery have been found: capulí, piartal and tuza
PIARTAL (TUNCAHUÁN), TUZA (CUASMAL)
Piartal is characterized by the application of negative paint and designs outlined in red. This type of ceramics was certainly used by people of political importance. Tuza ceramics, decorated in positive paint with designs in red or maroon, were used by the rest of society, who especially inhabited the edges of the mountains.
Among the pastos we find an abundance of deep plates with ring-shaped bases, or pedestals, decorated with a wide range of geometrical motifs and other motifs inspired by the human figure or animals forms, especially monkeys, spiders and frogs.
You can view this piece and more like it in our Quito Museum. Purchase your own unique Ecuadorian art in one of our 5 shops in mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos during your next Ecuador tour. If you are interested in learning more about Ecuadorian culture and the history of Ecuador, please visit our Art in Ecuador page for many great articles about each region’s artisans and arts.