Mold-Made Blackware Pendant with Rounded Headdress c. 100 - 600

This small blackware pendant, created by the Moche culture of ancient Peru, depicts a stylized human figure wearing a rounded headdress. The figure is likely a representation of a Moche deity or important individual, with its simplified form and exaggerated features characteristic of the Moche artistic style. This pendant, dating back to c. 100-600 CE, demonstrates the Moche’s skill in mold-making and their use of blackware pottery, a technique involving firing clay at a low temperature. The pendant is a testament to the rich and complex culture of the Moche people, and its presence in The Art Institute of Chicago provides insight into the artistry and religious beliefs of this ancient civilization.