Many colours versus one colour
The colourful Arica ceramic style was influenced by Tiwanaku culture (A.D. 500–1100) and lasted until just before the Hispanic period. This piece, from the Gentilar Phase, includes the so-called “Southern Tricolour,” a style found primarily in Southern Peru. In contrast, the monochromatic San Pedro style has no comparable styles in the region. The San Pedro ceramic tradition always included a range of decorative colours, including red, grey, black, reddish-purple and reddish–brown, but only one colour was used on each piece. This aesthetic feature appears to have been part of San Pedro cultural identity.
