Pre-Columbian Black Portrait Stirrup Vessel from Moche Culture

Description

A black ceramic figural stirrup vessel from Moche culture circa. 100-500 AD, located in nowadays Northern Coast of Peru. The … more A black ceramic figural stirrup vessel from Moche culture circa. 100-500 AD, located in nowadays Northern Coast of Peru. The hollow pot is in a rare black color and highly burnished, showing small areas of a lighter greyish clay color. The stirrup bottle has a finely formed sprout and it depicts the face of an elder donning a tight hood with straps draping down on the back. The man's face has a clear air of dignity with his large eyes and drooping cheeks. He wears a large ornament on his prominent nose, perhaps indicating his status as a religious leader or shaman. Sticker on bottom reads: "Exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago / 70-a". And another reads: "The Art Institute of Chicago" and is has the number 51.
Provenance: From the deceased collector of a benefactor of Wichita Art Musuem. Purportedly exhibited: Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS and Art Institute of Chicago.
Many black portrait stirrup bottles are in the collection of Larco Musuem, Lima, Peru, such as item ML 000007, 000016, 000026 and 000029. less