Handle Spout Vessel in the Form of a Seated Anthropomorphic Bird Wearing a Shawl c. 100 - 500

This ceramic handle spout vessel, shaped like a seated bird-like figure wearing a shawl, was created by the Moche people of ancient Peru. The Moche flourished between about 200 and 850 CE, a society marked by complex social hierarchies, religious beliefs, and sophisticated artistic traditions. The imagery on Moche pottery gives us insight into their world, depicting scenes of daily life, mythology, and ritual practices. We know that certain animals, like birds, held symbolic importance and may have been associated with supernatural powers. This vessel’s double spout design was common in Moche pottery and may have been used for ceremonial purposes, perhaps to pour liquids in rituals. Understanding the vessel's meaning requires research into Moche social structures, religious beliefs, and artistic conventions. By examining archaeological reports, iconographic studies, and ethnohistorical accounts, we can begin to interpret the role that objects like this played in shaping social identities and cultural meanings in ancient Moche society.