Pre-Columbian, Peru, Moche III Early Intermediate, ca. 400 to 550 CE. This is a striking mold-made portrait stirrup vessel in the tri-dimensional style, with the shape of the face sculpted as part of the pottery shape of the vessel (rather than painted on). In the classic Moche style, the vessel is slip painted and bichrome, with cream and red forming the details. This is a portrait of a high-status individual with tattooing / scarification on the face, large earrings, and an absolutely amazing headdress that appears to show human hands with wrist bands -- a cultural reference that members of the Moche society would have immediately recognized. Warfare in the Moche world involved captives being systematically dismembered starting with their hands -- another item we have in our gallery (see our website) is a pair of pottery keros made for blood drinking in the shape of human hands with similar wrist band decorations. Recent excavations of Moche archaeological sites suggest that vessels like this one were made to be used in the domestic sphere and then later buried as grave goods for high status individuals. Similar pieces are held by the Art Institute of Chicago and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Size: 6.75" W x 10.5" H (17.1 cm x 26.7 cm)

Provenance: Ex- A. Cajigas collection, Spain, acquired before 1976

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#113527

Chip to top of spout, else generally excellent