Stirrup Spout Vessel Depicting Mythic Battle c. 100 - 500

This stirrup spout vessel was made by the Moche people of ancient Peru, who flourished from about 200 to 850 AD. It’s made of molded and burnished earthenware. The Moche were extraordinary potters, using molds to mass-produce basic shapes, but then highly embellishing them. This vessel is decorated with a complex narrative scene of a mythic battle. It would have been painted with fine brushes, using mineral pigments. Look closely, and you will appreciate the sheer labor involved in its creation. But there's more to it than that. Pottery like this wasn't just for everyday use. The Moche often placed elaborate ceramics in tombs, reflecting a belief that these objects could accompany the dead into the afterlife. So, in this case, the making wasn't only a skilled process, but also a deeply social and spiritual act. It shows how materials, making, and context all come together, far transcending any distinction between art and craft.