Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, Phase IV, ca. 500 to 650 CE. A hand-built pottery vessel of a flat-bottomed form depicting Ai Apec, the chief deity of the Moche people. The spherical vessel bears highly burnished surfaces adorned with red-orange and cream pigments, and a stirrup-shaped handle and cylindrical spout rise from the shoulder. Atop the shoulder is Ai Apec who sits with crossed legs and hands held atop his knees, wears a lengthy cape with a jaguar head as well as a jaguar-headed headband, and dons stylized zoomorphic ear ornaments. His fierce countenance portrays the deity with bulging eyes, a pointed nose, tab-shaped ears, and enormous fangs emanating from his mouth. Size: 6.3" Diameter x 10.4" H (16 cm x 26.4 cm)

Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA, donated to Ashland University between July 1994 to December 1998

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#165726

Handle reattached to vessel at both terminals with resurfacing and overpainting along break lines, and spout reattached to top of handle with small chips and light adhesive residue. Abrasions and fading to areas of original pigment on body and figure, with a couple of small spalls on figure, and softening to some finer details on figure. Nice remains of original pigment throughout.