Stirrup Vessel Depicting Bands of Abstract Fish c. 100 - 500

Curator: Right now, we’re looking at a Moche stirrup vessel, crafted sometime between 100 and 500 AD. It's called "Stirrup Vessel Depicting Bands of Abstract Fish." What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Oh, it's feisty! Those stylized fish have real attitude—all sharp teeth and staring eyes. I’m intrigued by the contrast of the creamy clay with the reddish-brown paint, seems like a very rudimentary process with so much artistry on show. Curator: Absolutely, and remember it's earthenware, which speaks to readily available materials and skilled hands at work. The form is fascinating too – a rounded body topped with that distinctive stirrup spout. Editor: The stirrup is so interesting; why not just a regular spout? It strikes me as both practical and performative somehow, thinking about daily labor like hauling water for consumption or rituals that speak of connection with water elements. I see that they break it in transportation. What's this damage across the stirrup vessel? Curator: The breakage marks show time, really! It reminds us of the object's journey, that it carries stories far beyond the images on its surface. Now, back to those fish: do you see the ways the bands encircle the pot? Editor: It is very clever how these create the composition, it divides the space while also giving it an immersive feeling, as if you are plunged right into their environment. What symbolic value did this creature have for them? Curator: Water, life, fertility…likely all interwoven. It could represent the bounty of the sea, or even serve as a protective guardian. Considering its use, imagine water being poured, creating ripples in real-time like those painted fish! Editor: It’s mind-blowing to think about the sheer manual effort, to source and refine the clay, to hand-build this form, fire it, and then decorate it with such detail. So much embedded labor speaks volumes. The making and its relationship to the sea are so interesting and evocative, you know? Curator: It is! This pot, in its making, embodies that connection. Editor: Absolutely, these vessels offer insights into a very specific and unique historical moment of both ritual and everyday labor in ancient Peru. Curator: A story told in clay and fire, and how could a simple vessel whisper volumes about life so long ago?