Lot 112
Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, Phase III to IV, ca. 350 to 700 CE. A delightful bichrome Moche pottery stirrup vessel in the form of a Muscovy duck with head bent downward to rest his long beak atop his puffed chest. Wings folded at his sides, the bird displays a prominent crest, almond-shaped eyes, and a stirrup spout rising from his back, all adorned in hues of red and cream. In ancient Peru, Muscovy ducks were admired for their adept skills, their wide wingspan, and their graceful flight; not to mention their ability to fly low just above the water to scoop a heap of fish in their large beaks and then drain the water though their bill which acts as a sieve. Size: 6.7" L x 4.6" W x 7.3" H (17 cm x 11.7 cm x 18.5 cm)
The Moche domesticated the Muscovy duck and used it for feathers; feathers were a symbol of the elite. The males of the species are frequently aggressive, and this drew the attention of the Moche, making the animal a special symbol for warriors. The Lord of Spain was buried with ear spools decorated with Muscovy ducks, perhaps to emphasize his status as a great ruler and a powerful warrior.
Note: a similar example is published in The Spirit of Ancient Peru: Treasures from the Museo Arqueologico Rafael Larco Herrera (New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997, p. 107).
Provenance: private Ferndale, Michigan, USA collection; ex-private Detroit, Michigan, USA collection, acquired prior to 2004
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#182585
- Condition: Professionally repaired and restored with repainting over some break lines and others visible. Loss to top of proper right wing and surface wear as shown. Otherwise, nice presentation with liberal remaining pigments and light earthen deposits to interior.
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