Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche III-IV, ca. 200 to 500 CE. The Moche often depicted the dead with a skull and a live body as we see in this wonderful bi-chrome vessel of contrasting red and cream hues. To the Moche, the deceased were not regarded as truly dead, but rather continuing on in the afterlife. Sometimes the indigenous depicted them playing musical instruments, sitting on thrones, or even dancing. In this case, the figure is sitting with upraised knees, carrying a bundle of branches and seed bag on his back, and holding seeds, which symbolize renewal or the circle of life, in his hand. This iconography adds yet another layer of meaning to the piece, for as we know, in the Pre-Columbian world, human sacrifice was related to agriculture and petitions for good harvests. Size: 7.125" L x 9.125" H (18.1 cm x 23.2 cm)

Provenance: Ex-private collection of the late Peter Arnovick, San Francisco, CA

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#121077

Spout reattached and a few nicks to rim. Otherwise expected surface wear with some nicks and pigment loss as shown.