Mochica stirrup vessel of a dignitary
€3,050
available
Object number
AR3327
| Object: |
Mochica stirrup vessel in the shape of a dignitary
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| Material: |
Clay with reddish brown slip, painted on in beige.
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| Period: |
Moche culture, Early to Middle period, approx. 100 AD to 500 AD. |
| Description: |
The so-called stirrup vessel has a body in the form of a seated man, probably a dignitary, holding a spread out cloak (poncho) in front of him. A highly stylized figure is painted on the cloak. The man's ears are imposingly decorated with plates. The head is covered by a tight-fitting cap that merges into a back part.
A handle is attached to the back of the vessel. It is hollow and semi-circular, with an attached tubular spout pointing vertically upwards, slightly tilted to the rear. Magnificent and impressive depiction of a member of the Moche society. |
| Background: |
The Moche culture developed in present-day Peru from the 1st century AD. The highly organized state produced numerous cities and an irrigation system for agriculture. Among the archaeological testimonies of the Moche culture, the lifelike stirrup vessels are particularly famous. This vessel is an excellent example of its kind. From the 7th century the empire declined, probably due to drastic climate changes. The vessel presented here dates from the golden age of the Moche civilization.
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| Dimensions: |
20.0cm height, 16.3cm width, 16.5cm depth.
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| Condition: |
Very good condition. Merely an inconspicuous restoration at the bottom of the backside. Otherwise completely intact including original painting.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2022 in a German auction house. Previously with a German art dealer. Acquired by him on 6 February 2012 as lot no. 69 in auction 277 by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Munich, Germany. Consigned from the German private collection Dr. Ernst J. Fischer, who specialized in the ancient Peruvian peoples. Acquired by Dr. Fischer in 1989 from auction 138 of the well-known Munich art gallery of Wolfgang Ketterer.
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| Exhibitions: |
The collection was presented to the interested public several times and exhibited with different thematic focuses, often under the patronage of the Peruvian embassy in Germany. It was important to Dr. Fischer to open the eyes of the visitors to the highly developed precolumbian civilizations. For this purpose he shared his wealth of knowledge in various lectures or in personally guided tours through the exhibitions. It is not clear to us in which exhibitions the figure offered here was shown, but we would like to fully list the exhibitions of the Dr. Fischer collection for further research. 1992: "Amerika vor Kolumbus" - exhibition in the Niederrheinischen Museum für Volkskunde und Kulturgeschichte in Kevelaer, Germany. 1994: "Gesichter Alt-Amerika" - Exhibition in the foyer of the Sparkasse Krefeld, Germany. 1996: "Der Glanz peruanischer Hochkulturen" - exhibition in the Kunst- und Heimatmuseum of the municipality of Issum, Germany. Under the patronage of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, Dr. Luis Silva Santisteban Garcia Seminario. The opening took place in the presence of the Cultural Officer of the Embassy of the Republic of Peru, Mr. Gustavo Bonelli. 1998/1999: "Weltsprache der Form" - exhibition in the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg, Germany. 2000: "Leben und Leiden im alten Peru" - exhibition at the Kunsthallen Brandts Klaedefabrik in Odense, Denmark. 2004/2005: "Schritte in die Ewigkeit" - exhibition in the Niederrheinischen Museum für Volkskunde und Kulturgeschichte in Kevelaer, Germany. Under the patronage of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, Mr. Carlos Higueras. 2006: "Präkolumbische Kunst aus Peru" - Exhibition at Cologne Fine Art in Cologne, Germany. 2009: "Alt-peruanische Textilkunst" - Exhibition in Kerken, Germany. 2010: "Der Glanz peruanischer Hochkulturen" - exhibition in the Galerie im Alten Rathaus in Wittlich, Germany. Under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Peru. 2011: "Kallawaya – Heilkunst in den Anden" in the Grassi-Museum für Völkerkunde in Leipzig, Germany. |
| References: |
Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, acc. no. 64.228.34. Cf. Walter Alva, Gold aus dem alten Peru - Die Königsgräber von Sipán (Bonn, 2001), p. 23, no. 28. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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