Stirrup Spout Vessel with Fineline Depiction of an Abstract Feline c. 100 - 500

Editor: This Moche stirrup spout vessel, dating from around 100 to 500 AD, is crafted from ceramic. I’m immediately drawn to the intricate linework depicting what seems to be an abstract feline creature. What do you see in this piece, considering its material and creation? Curator: What strikes me is how this vessel collapses distinctions between function and representation, highlighting labor. We must consider where the raw materials originated, the potters' workshops, and the society’s consumption practices surrounding ceramics. The painted image may reference local beliefs; still, the processes of forming and firing are material achievements shaping that society’s symbolic environment. Editor: So you’re saying it’s not just about what the feline represents, but the work that went into it? Curator: Exactly! Think about the skill required to form the stirrup spout. Consider the sophisticated kiln technology needed for consistent firing. These ceramic objects weren't merely decorative. They speak volumes about the resources, expertise, and social structures necessary for their production. Are they standardized goods, commissioned artwork or the result of communal collaboration? Editor: It makes me reconsider how I understand pre-Columbian art. It is easy to separate form and utility... Curator: Indeed, considering production makes the artwork "speak" about how ancient Moche society valued, and materialized knowledge, class structure and beliefs. We can almost map its entire value-chain. Editor: That shifts my perspective. I thought about representation. I did not notice how ceramics become historical sources about Moche labor practices. Curator: Material considerations encourage such nuanced understanding, enriching our appreciation.