Chancay artists are recognized for their vibrantly colored tapestries, and for a black-on- white ceramic tradition. The latter includes large hollow figures with outstretched hands, or cuchimilcos, large urns, and effigy sculpture. Chancay painting is easily recognized. Its watery black and white slip paints are casually applied, and there is little uniformity or exactness of line. Painted designs are typically executed in panels containing geometric motifs akin to textile patterns. Surface finishes are chalky in appearance. This example consists of a small, spherical bowl that has been painted on the exterior with white slip paint. A panel of black-painted checkerboards occupies about half of the outer surface. It opposes a panel of vertical lines (see Donnan 1992: fig. 191 for an example of the design). A spotted feline, also painted in black and white, is attached to a white painted panel, just below the rim. A wide band of black paint separates the design field from the rounded base. - Lisa DeLeonardis, June 2016