Stirrup Spout Vessel with Fineline Image of a Running Royal Messenger c. 100 - 500

This earthenware stirrup-spout vessel was made by the Moche people of ancient Peru. Its decoration depicts what is thought to be a royal messenger running, rendered with fine-line painting. The Moche were renowned for their pottery. Its creation was inextricably linked to social and political power structures. The stirrup spout vessel’s design, with its twin spouts connected by a handle, allowed for even liquid distribution. However, it was also highly suited to the rough terrain and prone to spills. This indicates their practicality within Moche society. Moreover, the image of the running royal messenger implies a complex communication system, vital for administering a far-reaching, stratified society. Fineline painting, as seen here, was a skill probably specific to elite artisans, indicating the social importance of visual communication in Moche culture. Archaeological reports, iconographic studies, and chemical analysis of the vessel’s contents are invaluable resources for understanding its meaning. It is an artifact deeply embedded in its own time and place.