Treasures of the Past
July 2004

Chimu vessel exhibiting portrait head and snake motive.

The Peruvian artifacts shown at the Wilson Museum are unique in this area; they were acquired in the early 1900s when, in exceptional circumstances, such items were allowed to leave Peru; such national treasures can no longer be obtained. The collection includes a number of fine jars representative, for the most part, of the ceramics of a people who reached their cultural peak about 1,100 A.D. — three hundred years before the advent of the Incan civilization.

The whistling jar, developed in the late Chimu period, was originally conceived with an animal or human figure holding a whistle, later the whistle was often concealed in the vessel. The “whistling” is made by air which is drawn in and down as liquid is poured out.

Back to Top WILSON MUSEUM Open: May 27 — September 30 Daily, 2 — 5 pm John Perkins House Blacksmith Shop Hearse House July — August, Wednesday & Sunday, 2 — 5 pm Group visits can be arranged by appointment. (207) 326-9247   info@wilsonmuseum.org Admission is free, except for the John Perkins House, where there are guided tours.