Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chavin culture, Cupisnique, ca. 1200 BCE. A fabulous mold-formed brownware pottery stirrup vessel with a wide cylindrical base, a petite slanted shoulder, a domed upper body, and a wide stirrup-form handle with a cylindrical neck projecting from the middle. The front of the upper body bears a stylized owl head with enormous circular eyes with petite pupils, a narrow aquiline beak, and nubbin ears with incised vertical grooves, and the lower body is adorned with five panels filled with abstract linear motifs. An attractive example with fine iconography built with sophisticated technique! Size: 5.75" W x 9.875" H (14.6 cm x 25.1 cm).
The stirrup vessel form is named for its resemblance to a horseback riding saddle stirrup. In addition to being iconographically rich, these vessels were also practical. Their narrow openings prevented rapid evaporation of the precious liquid within - a great advantage given the extremely dry deserts of Peru. Note also that the shape of the neck made it easy to carry. Two stirrup vessels could be tied to the ends of a cord and suspended over a llama's back or a person's shoulder.
The Chavin civilization is generally regarded as the Andean mother civilization - oftentimes compared to the Olmec of Mexico. Both the Chavin and the Olmec cultures created the earliest Pre-Columbian visual culture that continued to flourish until European contact in the 16th century. Using molds and modeling the forms by hand, the Chavin made numerous stirrup-spout vessels like this example. Scholars have suggested that the indigenous used them to store fermented corn beer or "chicha".
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany
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#148341
Condition
Minor abrasions and nicks to base, body, owl head, and handle with softening to some finer details, and fading to scattered areas of original pigmentation, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.