Artwork Page for Deer-Headed Figure Vessel

Details / Information for Deer-Headed Figure Vessel

Deer-Headed Figure Vessel

200–850 CE

Central Andes, North Coast, Moche people

Medium
ceramic, slip
Measurements
Overall: 26.5 x 14 x 25.5 cm (10 7/16 x 5 1/2 x 10 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Jo Hershey Selden Fund 2008.1
Public Domain
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Location
232 Andean
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Description

Moche imagery includes an intriguing world of creatures that mingle traits from different realms: beans sprout human legs and race up a spout, jars leap with human feet to pour themselves, and animals wield weapons in two hands. This figure, with a stag’s head but a human’s body, is an example. He is engaged in a coca-leaf chewing ritual and thus holds a bag for the leaves along with a container of powdered lime that is one of the ritual’s key ingredients.
A green-beige ceramic vessel is shaped like a figure with the head of a deer seated with their legs crossed and holding a cylindrical instrument in their right hand, palm up. Held horizontally, this cylinder narrows and makes contact with the flared top of another cylinder, held vertically in the figure's left hand. Part of a curved handle with a spout protruding from the top can be seen attached to the figure's back.

Deer-Headed Figure Vessel

200–850 CE

Central Andes, North Coast, Moche people

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