Moche Bi-Chrome Pottery Stirrup Vessel - Bullfrog

Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche II, ca. 400 CE. An outstanding bi-chrome red-on-cream frog effigy vessel with bas relief corn stalks on either side of the body and another adorning the throat, all surrounded by painted beans. The vessel presents a sizeable bull frog - with legs tucked against his body and an arched stirrup spout emerging from his back. The protruding head boasts bulging eyes and a pronounced nose adorned with striations above an open mouth full of teeth. A wonderful vessel demonstrating superior command of technique and medium as well as embodying meaningful symbolism; in the Pre-Columbian world, the frog (rana) was associated with rain, the sustenance that it brings about, and fertility. Size: 8.25" L x 5.5" W x 8.5" H (21 cm x 14 cm x 21.6 cm)

Interestingly, the beans are painted in a glyphic manner which we have seen before on Moche fineline vessels as well as Nazca stirrup vessels. What do you think the ancients intended to communicate with these bean glyphs?

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hirsch collection, New York City, New York, USA, collected from 1950-1970

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#152646
Condition Report: Professionally repaired from multiple pieces with restoration over the break lines. This is very well done. An outstanding example.