Moche Strerup Jar Analysis
Examining a Moche Stirrup Jar
At the Polk Museum exhibit I was struck by a Moche ceramic artifact titled “Stirrup Jar with Fanged Deity Effigy, Early Intermediate Period, 400-600 CE”. The base of the jar was molded into a sphere (with a flat bottom surface) which acts as the “body”, sporting painted arms and items held within each hand. The deity also appears to be wearing some kind of cloak, most notably indicated by the bow that is tied at the base of its neck. The head of the creature is molded to resemble rather monkey-like features, with bared fangs and large ears.
The colors of the vessel are clay and a deeper red, very characteristic of Moche pottery. It is difficult to call this an anthropomorphic-animal creation, aside from the fact that it dons the cloak, two …show more content…
Their existence is estimated to last from 200 BCE to 500 CE. The Polk Museum dated this vessel to go a little beyond that time period, but it is an approximation after all. The Moche were incredibly unique in their vessel making. Most pottery in ancient Peru was crafted by using coils, whereas the Moche came to favor molds (Parsons 1962). Also unlike their neighbors, the Moche took pride in hyperrealistic and naturalistic portrayals in their art. Above everything they left behind, the Moche’s fully-functional portrait vessels out of molds are the most famous, depicting the faces of people of high status in their exact likeness over time. The Moche did not simply stick to faces: on their vessels they would also depict full-body scenes ranging from ceremonies to sex. The fact that the Moche spent a lot of time on the natural makes my vessel unusual if it were to depict a half-human, half-monkey, which is why I believe it could just be a monkey dressed up. Further investigation into this matter will hopefully shed some light on the truth behind this stirrup
At the Polk Museum exhibit I was struck by a Moche ceramic artifact titled “Stirrup Jar with Fanged Deity Effigy, Early Intermediate Period, 400-600 CE”. The base of the jar was molded into a sphere (with a flat bottom surface) which acts as the “body”, sporting painted arms and items held within each hand. The deity also appears to be wearing some kind of cloak, most notably indicated by the bow that is tied at the base of its neck. The head of the creature is molded to resemble rather monkey-like features, with bared fangs and large ears.
The colors of the vessel are clay and a deeper red, very characteristic of Moche pottery. It is difficult to call this an anthropomorphic-animal creation, aside from the fact that it dons the cloak, two …show more content…
Their existence is estimated to last from 200 BCE to 500 CE. The Polk Museum dated this vessel to go a little beyond that time period, but it is an approximation after all. The Moche were incredibly unique in their vessel making. Most pottery in ancient Peru was crafted by using coils, whereas the Moche came to favor molds (Parsons 1962). Also unlike their neighbors, the Moche took pride in hyperrealistic and naturalistic portrayals in their art. Above everything they left behind, the Moche’s fully-functional portrait vessels out of molds are the most famous, depicting the faces of people of high status in their exact likeness over time. The Moche did not simply stick to faces: on their vessels they would also depict full-body scenes ranging from ceremonies to sex. The fact that the Moche spent a lot of time on the natural makes my vessel unusual if it were to depict a half-human, half-monkey, which is why I believe it could just be a monkey dressed up. Further investigation into this matter will hopefully shed some light on the truth behind this stirrup