Flaring Bowl Depicting Abstract Birds on the Inner Rim c. 100 - 500

This flaring bowl with abstract birds painted on the inner rim was created by the Moche people in ancient Peru. The Moche civilization flourished from about 100 to 800 AD, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy. Their pottery, like this bowl, wasn't just functional; it served as a canvas for expressing their beliefs, rituals, and daily life. The abstract birds likely held symbolic meaning, perhaps connected to their cosmology or social structure. The bowl’s elegant form and careful decoration tells us about Moche society. What kind of special occasions was this bowl used for? Understanding such objects requires that we dig into anthropological reports and archeological findings. We need to consider the social and institutional contexts in which such things took on meaning.