Moche Jaguar Stirrup Vessel with Shell and Turquoise InlayPre-Columbian, Peru,...
Moche Jaguar Stirrup Vessel with Shell and Turquoise InlayPre-Columbian, Peru, Moche, ca. 100–300 CE. A snarling feline rears from the shoulder of this drum-bodied bottle, modeled in buff ceramic and finished in red-brown slip on cream. The jaguar's brows and muzzle are inlaid with spondylus shell, the eyes ringed in turquoise and shell, and the open jaws set with carved shell fangs, teeth, and tongue. A stirrup spout rises behind the head, its arch springing from the flattened disc body. Painted ornament covers the drum edge with a large double-spiral bird and a file of four smaller spiral birds along one half. Likely a prestige or funerary offering, made for the elite tombs of the north coast rather than for daily service. Size: 7" W x 6" H x 2.75" D (17.8 cm W x 15.2 cm H x 7.0 cm D).
The stirrup-spout bottle is the signature vessel of the Moche, who dominated the desert valleys of Peru's north coast for some seven centuries. Its closed loop limits evaporation and restricts pouring, qualities suited to funerary chicha offerings, and its silhouette became a canvas for the most inventive figural modeling in the ancient Andes.
Inlay of this kind is rare and costly. Spondylus princeps, the thorny oyster, does not occur in Peruvian waters and had to be traded south from Ecuador; turquoise came from the highlands. Setting both into a fired clay face marks the vessel as elite work. The feline itself carries supernatural weight in Moche art, appearing as companion and alter ego to the ritual specialists who preside over sacrifice scenes on painted fineline wares.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Reuven Livny, Israel. To family by descent. Acquired from Arte Xibalba, FL. Ex. Estate of Leroy Irons, Gallatin, TN. With copy of Arte Xibalba certificate.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #73176Spout cleanly reattached with break lines left visible, missing one upper fang, some insets are reglued and some could be ancient replacements, minor chips on the ears, a patch of minor surface erosion on the lower base front, otherwise intact, overall excellent condition.
Moche Jaguar Stirrup Vessel with Shell and Turquoise InlayPre-Columbian, Peru, Moche, ca. 100–300 CE. A snarling feline rears from the shoulder of this drum-bodied bottle, modeled in buff ceramic and finished in red-brown slip on cream. The jaguar's brows and muzzle are inlaid with spondylus shell, the eyes ringed in turquoise and shell, and the open jaws set with carved shell fangs, teeth, and tongue. A stirrup spout rises behind the head, its arch springing from the flattened disc body. Painted ornament covers the drum edge with a large double-spiral bird and a file of four smaller spiral birds along one half. Likely a prestige or funerary offering, made for the elite tombs of the north coast rather than for daily service. Size: 7" W x 6" H x 2.75" D (17.8 cm W x 15.2 cm H x 7.0 cm D).
The stirrup-spout bottle is the signature vessel of the Moche, who dominated the desert valleys of Peru's north coast for some seven centuries. Its closed loop limits evaporation and restricts pouring, qualities suited to funerary chicha offerings, and its silhouette became a canvas for the most inventive figural modeling in the ancient Andes.
Inlay of this kind is rare and costly. Spondylus princeps, the thorny oyster, does not occur in Peruvian waters and had to be traded south from Ecuador; turquoise came from the highlands. Setting both into a fired clay face marks the vessel as elite work. The feline itself carries supernatural weight in Moche art, appearing as companion and alter ego to the ritual specialists who preside over sacrifice scenes on painted fineline wares.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Reuven Livny, Israel. To family by descent. Acquired from Arte Xibalba, FL. Ex. Estate of Leroy Irons, Gallatin, TN. With copy of Arte Xibalba certificate.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #73176Spout cleanly reattached with break lines left visible, missing one upper fang, some insets are reglued and some could be ancient replacements, minor chips on the ears, a patch of minor surface erosion on the lower base front, otherwise intact, overall excellent condition.
