Vessel in the Form of an Owl Impersonator c. 100 - 500

This ceramic vessel, crafted by the Moche people, embodies more than just form; it encapsulates a worldview. Emerging from the northern coast of Peru, the Moche civilization, which flourished from approximately 200 to 850 AD, left no written records, so we look to their art to discover their beliefs. Here, the figure is dressed in elaborate attire, possibly signifying a high-ranking individual assuming the persona of an owl. The owl, often seen as an ambivalent figure across cultures, might signify wisdom and power. Simultaneously, it hints at the connections between the human and non-human spheres in Moche cosmology. The vessel’s creation and its subsequent use in rituals speaks to the porous boundaries between humanity, nature, and the divine. Holding what seems to be a ceremonial object, the figure invites contemplation on the exchange between the earthly and spiritual realms. Through this vessel, we glimpse the embodied, performed, and deeply felt nature of Moche identity.