Chavin Cupisnique Pottery Sleeping Bird Stirrup Vessel

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Chavin-Cupisnique, ca. 1200 BCE. A beautiful stirrup vessel modeled with its body in the form of an elegant sleeping bird, its head turned 180 degrees and tucked beneath its wings. The avian is also embellished with incised plumage over its wings and tailfeathers, and an ample stirrup spout rises above. In addition to its attractive avian form and finely modeled and incised details, the vessel presents with rich caramel hues and a lustrous, burnished finish. Although much Cupisnique pottery focuses on trophy heads and warfare, they also are known for their depictions of animals. This is a beautiful piece sure to spark conversation and delight animal lovers! Size: 8.125" W x 8.875" H (20.6 cm x 22.5 cm)

Cupisnique was a Pre-Columbian culture that thrived from circa 1500 to 500 BCE in what we know today as the northern Pacific Coast of Peru. The Cupisnique culture had a distinctive style of pottery as well as adobe architecture; however, it shared religious iconography and artistic styles with the later Chavin peoples, who resided in the same area, but arose a bit later. Scholars are still working to understand the relationship between the Chavin and Cupisnique cultures, and their names are used reciprocally at times.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950 to 1960s

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#161496
Condition Report: Chips to rim of spout. Professionally repaired from about 10 to 12 pieces with restoration over the break lines. Collection label on base.