Peruvian whistling vessels

Peruvian whistling vessel featured image

Peruvian whistling vessels, Inca whistling vessels, Andean whistle jars…their various names have one word in common: whistle. And whistles are one thing we love at Huaco Arte 🙂

The truth is, we know very little about these ancient South American whistling vessels, though pre-Columbian cultures left thousands of artifacts behind for archaeologists to study.

Despite many decades of investigation, we still don’t understand their importance and usage of whistling vessels in the past – we can only guess. Since many of the artifacts were found in tombs, we can assume they were used in funerals. And since many of the sounds produced by the vessels can cause psychoacoustic experiences, there may be a link to shamanistic ritual.

What are Peruvian whistling vessels?

Put simply, they are ceramic jars that whistle. They come in many forms and sizes and can emit different sounds, depending on their construction and the complex hydraulic engineering technologies implemented.

The most impressive of the Peruvian whistling vessels are those that operate with water, where the water moves through the vessel, displacing air through a sensitive whistle (or whistles), thereby activating the whistle to emit a mystical sound (or sounds). This can also be done by blowing into the vessel, but the subtle sound caused by water is quite otherwordly.

How to Peruvian whistling vessels work?

The above video is an excellent demonstration of how a whistling vessel functions.

There are many types of Peruvian whistling vessels, and there are even whistling vessels from other countries, like Ecuador and Colombia. The Peruvian ones happen to be the most popular, but do not overlook the sophistication of Ecuadorian whistling vessels!

For the most part, every whistling vessel includes one or more whistles. These were carefully made and strategically placed in the vessel so that, either by air or the movement of water, they could be easily activated.

Note that some whistling vessels are made of 2 ceramic bodies, where water moves from one body to the next, but they also work in 1 body, depending on their construction. There are also whistling vessels that work with 3 and 4 bodies, though these are less common.

Here are some diagrams to depict how Peruvian whistling vessels work:

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
peruvian whistling bottle
Figure 6

Sources: Figure 1 – AGUA_Y_MUSICA_EN_LOS_ANDES Jose Perez de Arce.pdf Figure 2 – https://www.scantix.com/case-studies/terracotta-statues/peruvian-bottle/ Figure 3 – http://www.mehlmandesign.com/ceramic-glass/blog-detail/pots-with-secrets/ Figure 4 – Whistling_Bottles_Sound_Mind_and_Water.pdf Figure 5 – https://journal.thewalters.org/volume/75/note/the-art-of-knowing-when-not-to-wet-your-whistle-multidisciplinary-research-into-the-use-of-a-sican-whistling-vessel-in-the-museum-context/ Figure 6 – https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Left-Photograph-of-a-double-chambered-Peruvian-whistling-bottle-Right_fig4_346605197

Peruvian whistling vessels 3D

The best 3D depiction on a Peruvian whistling vessel that I’ve come across is one on https://www.scantix.com/. Cross sections are available to understand the inner construction of these amazing artifacts.

peruvian whistling vessel 3d print
peruvian whistling vessel 3d

Types of Peruvian whistling pots

When someone refers to whistling vessels, most people imagine the two chambered whistling vessel because it’s one that best illustrates how these pots function and make sound, but there are actually many, many types of whistling vessels.

In terms of material, I am only talking about ceramic whistling vessels – I don’t believe any have been found made of another material.

Different South American cultures created different types of vessels using unique air and water systems. Here are a few basic categories you’ll come across (this is not a comprehensive list)

How to make a Peruvian whistling vessel

If you’re interested in learning to make a whistling vessel, I am offering online ceramics class at various levels.

Level 1 of How to Make a Whistling Vessel is open to anyone, no prior experience with clay is necessary (though it is always helpful :). You’ll make a double chambered whistling vessel based on the Chimu cullture whistling vessels. This is a great first vessel to start with and understand how whistling vessels work.

In Level 2 of the online ceramics course, you’ll learn another type of whistling vessel construction (there are many!).

Whistling vessel origins

Though these vessels are referred to as Peruvian, the different cultures that produced these vessels come from Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Here is a list of cultures that had whistling bottles:

Peruvian whistling vessels for sale

In Peru and Ecuador, you’ll find some places where you can buy replicas of whistling vessels. However, if you’re not located in Peru (or traveling through) you can have a whistling vessel commissioned or buy one that is available in our shop.

Get in touch to inquire about buying a Peruvian whistling vessel.