Handle Spout Vessel in Form of Sacrificer Wearing a Jaguar Headdress c. 100 - 500

This ceramic vessel, created by the Moche civilization of ancient Peru between 100 and 500 CE, depicts a figure wearing a jaguar headdress and holding two smaller figures in its hands. The vessel, now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to the Moche's skill in ceramic art, showcasing their detailed representations of human and animal figures. The stylized features and the vessel’s use as a container for liquids suggest a ritualistic purpose, possibly related to offerings or ceremonies. The jaguar headdress, a powerful symbol in Moche iconography, further emphasizes the figure's importance and its connection to the spiritual world.