Description:

Pre-Columbian, northern Peru, Moche culture, phase 2, ca. 300 to 400 CE. A finely burnished blackware ceramic stirrup-spout vessel, the globular body deeply modeled with a bold, swirling spiral design that wraps around both sides, possibly evoking water, wind, or cosmic motion in Moche iconography. It has been suggested this represents an octopus, a creature that would have certainly been in the menu and had supernatural abilities. The tall, cylindrical spout rises from the arched stirrup handle, a hallmark of North Coast ceramic tradition. The vessel’s smooth surface and crisp relief demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship characteristic of Moche potters, whose works often carried symbolic meaning tied to ritual, nature, and cosmology. Size: 5.75" W x 7" H (14.6 cm x 17.8 cm)

Provenance: private Parker, Colorado, USA collection, ex Minerva Gallery, ex Merida collection Florida acquired prior to 1960.

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.

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#196515

  • Condition: Repaired from 3 pieces with repainting over the breaks. Appears choice.

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August 22, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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