Miniature Stirrup Spout Vessel with Incised Hatched Motif 1,000 B.C./200 B.C.

This miniature vessel was created by the Cupisnique people using ceramic techniques, before the rise of the Inca Empire. The smooth clay of the vessel is shaped into a round body and distinctive stirrup spout - a closed loop connecting the vessel to the pouring spout. The surface is then incised with a repeating hatched pattern. Notice how the maker used simple tools to create a raised grid design, giving the pot a tactile, basket-like texture. The making of this vessel would have been time consuming. First, the clay had to be sourced, prepared, and formed. Then, the meticulous work of carving the intricate pattern. Finally, the vessel had to be fired, likely in an open pit. While we may never know its exact purpose, this pot offers a glimpse into the sophisticated material culture of the pre-Inca Americas. It reminds us that even the simplest objects can be infused with meaning through skillful making.