On view
Art of the Ancient Americas
Stirrup-spout vessel in the form of a feline,
350–650 CE
Mochica
Early Intermediate Period (Moche phase III-IV)
2018-87
The Salinar culture adapted techniques from earlier regional traditions while incorporating greater attention to refined naturalism as well as a distinctive spout that is small and tapered, with a round strap handle. The Mochica preferred the stirrup-spout for their ceramic vessels, which marked the objects as particularly potent and sacred. In general, the Mochica approached ceramic vessels in one of two ways, producing either thoroughly three-dimensional and simply colored vessels or unmodeled shapes with finely drawn narrative scenes in red on a cream ground.
Information
Title
Stirrup-spout vessel in the form of a feline
Dates
350–650 CE
Medium
Ceramic with red and cream slip-paint
Dimensions
18 × 19.5 × 13.8 cm (7 1/16 × 7 11/16 × 5 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, Fowler McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund
Object Number
2018-87
Place Made
South America, Peru, North coast, possibly Dos Cabezas or vicinity
Culture
Type
Materials
Subject
1968, private collection, New York [1]; 2018, sold to the Princeton University Art Museum.
Notes:
1] According to the collector catalogue. Copy in curatorial file.
