Handle Spout Vessel in the Form of a Anthropomorphic Owl with Arms Crossed over Chest c. 100 - 500

This clay handle spout vessel, shaped like an anthropomorphic owl with arms crossed, was crafted by the Moche people. The owl, often a symbol of wisdom and night, here takes on a human-like form, crossing its arms, a gesture laden with meanings of defiance, contemplation, or mourning. Consider the Egyptian depictions of the soul as a bird, or the Greek association of owls with Athena, goddess of wisdom. This gesture of crossed arms appears across cultures, from ancient funerary art to modern expressions of grief. The Moche artisan infuses the animal with human emotion, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. In the collective memory, the owl's image is not static; it evolves, resurfacing in different guises, carrying echoes of past beliefs and emotions, a testament to the enduring power of symbols across time.