Stirrup Spout Vessel with Fineline Bird Motifs c. 100 - 500

This ceramic stirrup-spout vessel with bird motifs was created by the Moche people of ancient Peru. The Moche flourished between the 1st and 8th centuries, and their art gives us insight into their complex society. The fineline painting on this vessel is a key to that society. Its iconography blends realism with abstracted, symbolic elements, which may point to the myths and beliefs that legitimized the Moche social order. The bird depicted was likely of great importance to the Moche. Birds were associated with power, divination, and the spirit world. Archaeological evidence suggests such vessels were not merely functional but were also part of elaborate rituals and burial practices. We can explore the Moche civilization through the study of iconography and burial practices which are valuable resources for understanding the social conditions that shaped artistic production. Understanding the Moche is contingent on social and institutional context.