Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, Phase IV, ca. 500 to 650 CE. A fascinating pottery vessel with a bulbous body shaped like both a gourd and a figure. The vessel has a rounded body and tapers to form a stooped neck and molded face of a person with a cleft lip. Below the face, arms are painted in brown on a beige ground. One hand holds a bowl and below is a drinking cup that may be on a table before the figure. The cleft upper lip is accentuated with white pigments. The Moche often portrayed people with illness or deformities. To the ancients of the Americas, individuals with physical deformities were regarded as touched by god and therefore quite special. The added gourd shape is also special because squashes were symbols of fertility and abundance. This stirrup vessel is certainly an intriguing example of Moche artistry! Size: 5.25" W x 8.75" H (13.3 cm x 22.2 cm)
Provenance: ex-Ashland University Museum, Ashland, Ohio, USA, donated to Ashland University between July 1994 to December 1998
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#166328
Condition
Professionally repaired and restored. The handle is restored completely from new material. Overpainting to base of handle, overpainting to beige on head and body. Chips to rim of spout. Base is uneven and not completely stable; we recommend using a ring display stand. Chipping and fading of pigments. Rare form.