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Ceremonial Vessel

500–700 CE
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
Moche ceramic artists were the creators and masters of a painting style called "fineline," in which red slip is delicately applied to a buff background. This example features a series of confrontations between mythical figures on the bowl’s broad rim. A protagonist, wearing a tunic with a stepped design, faces off against anthropomorphic birds and sea creatures. Three musicians—two panpipe players and a drummer—are also portrayed. Clay pellets within the hollow pedestal made the vessel rattle when moved.



Los ceramistas moche fueron los creadores y maestros de un estilo de pintura llamado "línea fina", en el cual se aplicaba una fina capa de pintura roja sobre un fondo color de ante. En este ejemplo se puede observar una serie de confrontaciones entre figuras míticas. Uno de los protagonistas, vestido con una túnica con formas escalonadas está confrontando a pájaros antropomórficos y seres marinos. También están representados tres músicos, dos de ellos tocando zampoñas y uno tocando el tambor. Unas bolitas de arcilla ubicadas en un pedestal hueco hacen ruido al moverse la vasija.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ceremonial Vessel
  • Date: 500–700 CE
  • Geography: Peru
  • Culture: Moche
  • Medium: Ceramic
  • Dimensions: H. 9 13/16 × W. 17 9/16 × D. 17 1/2 in. (24.9 × 44.6 × 44.4 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Vessels
  • Credit Line: Museo Larco, Lima, Peru (ML018882)
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing