Pre-Columbian, northern Peru, Moche culture, Phase IV, ca. 500 to 700 CE. An impressive pottery stirrup vessel presenting a globular form with red-painted fine line decoration of the deity Ai Apec atop a creamy beige ground on one side. Sitting upon a planar base, the ancient dish displays a tubular stirrup spout rising from its top as the fierce visage of Ai Apec gazes outward just below. The god opens his mouth wide to display sharp fangs as his huge, semi-circular eyes flank his curved nose, all crowned by a striped, helmet-like headdress from which spiraling rays span outwards creating a coiffure reminiscent of a gorgoneion. Stylized ears sit at either side of the ferocious face, as the deity spreads his arms outwards, stretching out his lengthy claws. Size: 6" Diameter x 11.5" H (15.2 cm x 29.2 cm)

Ai Apaec is the primary Moche deity of creation, food, water, military victory and the most feared but respected of the wrathful gods- and sometimes referred to as the headsman or decapitator god! His iconography varies, but his ferocious nature was often depicted as a combination of human, aquatic, spider, and jaguar traits. Scholars posit that during human sacrifices, when prisoners were decapitated, their heads were presented as offerings to Ai Apaec.

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

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#172894

Professionally repaired with break lines visible in areas, as well as some restoration and repainting. Chipping with minor losses to rim. Light surface wear with some nicks and abrasions. Otherwise, very nice with great remaining pigments. Modern felt pads on base for protection.