Stirrup Spout Vessel Depicting Reclining Figures Possibly 1100 - 1470

This is a Chimú stirrup spout vessel depicting reclining figures, made from earthenware. What immediately strikes us is the monochromatic surface and the vessel's sculptural form. The smooth, dark gray material invites a tactile experience, while the stirrup spout—an engineering marvel—creates a visual tension between functionality and art. Note how the figures are integrated into the vessel's form, their reclining poses suggesting a connection with the earth and perhaps a cyclical return. The composition cleverly plays with positive and negative space. The oval created by the stirrup handle contrasts with the solid mass of the base, which invites us to consider how these opposing elements create a sense of equilibrium. The figures, rendered with simplified forms, are not mere decoration but integral to the vessel's overall structure. The careful construction of the vessel, along with the integrated figures, leads to a symbolic system that invites ongoing interpretations of form, meaning, and cultural context.