**Originally Listed At $800**

Pre-Columbian, north coast of Peru, Moche V, 600 to 800 CE. A captivating bichrome stirrup vessel depicting an applied bas relief deer adorned with a white on red spotted coat on each side against a fine-line painted red-on-white scene depicting two striding hunters beneath each end of the stirrup. The hunters are presented in composite profile with bent arms and legs to capture their motion, and gripping two sticks in each hand to assist in the hunt. Elaborately decorated, they wear magnificent helmets adorned with tumis and feathers, large earspools, a tunic with step motifs, wristlets, and leg coverings. A hunting dog trots before one of the hunters, and birds, flowers, and foliage embellish the field. The base of the stirrup is painted with red and cream bands and the foot is red. Size: 5" W stirrup x 9.375" H (12.7 cm x 23.8 cm)

The Moche were innovative ceramicists and used their pottery to represent myriad subjects, among them zoomorphic forms such as camelids, felines, foxes, bats, monkeys, sea lions, as well as deer as we see in this example. Valued for their speed and grace, deer were associated with stellar symbolism, and frequently featured in Moche and other pre-Columbian creation myths.

See a fineline bichrome Moche vessel of deer hunt motifs (albeit without relief elements and with more minimalist painted imagery) in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago (1957.378).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Mazard family collection, France, collected in the 1980s

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#149774

Professionally repaired from multiple pieces with restoration/touch up paint over the break lines. A few chips to foot/base. Normal surface wear with minor scuffs and minute areas of pigment loss commensurate with age. Collection number handwritten on base. A very special example with impressive fineline painting and deer reliefs.