Square Spouted Vessel with Parrot Molded on Handle Possibly 250 - 550

This Square Spouted Vessel with Parrot Molded on Handle was created by the Moche people out of clay. The vessel shows the Moche’s artistic skills, while the parrot on the handle has cultural meaning, possibly symbolizing power or status. The square shape is pretty rare. It might have been made using molds. Clay's a common material, but shaping it into geometric forms like this needs care. The parrot's details show skill, maybe from carving or modeling. The surface of the vessel appears to have been polished or painted to enhance its look. Ancient Andean societies valued ceramics for daily life and rituals. Making these pots involved labor, and the images they held may reflect the social structures and traditions of the people. By valuing the making, the material, and the cultural meaning behind the vessel, we move beyond conventional divides between craft and fine art.