A Moche Terracotta Stirrup-Spout Vessel Depicting a Seated Dignitary, Moche II, ca. 300 - 500 CE

A Moche terracotta stirrup-spout vessel depicting a seated dignitary or chief, portrayed in a formal, frontal pose upon a rectangular, tiered throne. The figure is characterized by broad, angular facial features, large almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, and a small, firmly set mouth. He wears a headdress formed of overlapping bands wrapped around the forehead, with large ear ornaments framing the face. Around his neck is a broad, segmented collar composed of several concentric bands. His arms are bent at the elbows, with both hands resting upon his knees, while his lower body is enveloped in a garment extending across the raised platform. Medium: Teracotta Dimensions: Height: 6 3/8 inches (16.2 cm), Width: 4 inches (10 cm) Condition: Intact and in very good condition, with minor scattered surface wear and weathering, particularly to the spout. Traces of reddish-mauve and cream pigmentation remain. Provenance: Collection of Nancy and John Hyde Devoe, New York City and New Jersey, assembled between the 1950s and 1970s, thereafter in a Long Island, New York, private collection.