Pre-Columbian, Peru, Moche, Phase III to VI, ca. 350 to 850 CE. An evocative pottery vessel in the form of a male skeleton, seated with hands on knees which flank an erect phallus. Crowned by a tubular spout, his haunting visage gazes forward with huge, sunken eyes beneath heavy glabellar lines, a raised nose, and a long straight mouth. His chin juts forward above his ribcage with his curved spine carefully delineated on the verso. The Moche frequently depicted skeletons in erotic poses in their pottery, and archaeologists believe this is because, to the Moche, fertility took place in both the current life and the afterlife. Size: 2.9" W x 5.4" H (7.4 cm x 13.7 cm)

Please note that this piece was gifted to the current owner by Dr. Francis Robicsek, a renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon and ancient art collector who wrote 4 books on Pre-Columbian culture and archeology. A significant amount of his art collection can be seen at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Provenance: private Superior, Colorado, USA collection, gifted in 2015 by Dr. Francis Robicsek, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, acquired before 1980

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#179958

Small chip to rim and stable hairline fissure to proper right side of neck. Light surface wear as shown, but otherwise intact and excellent with nice remaining detail.