Corn Popper Depicting Costumed Runners with a Modeled Handle c. 100 - 500

Editor: Here we have a Moche ceramic "Corn Popper Depicting Costumed Runners," dating from approximately 100 to 500 CE. What strikes me is the detailed narrative scene encircling the vessel. How would you interpret this work within its cultural context? Curator: This piece gives us a window into Moche society. Consider the social functions of ceramics. They weren't merely decorative. This vessel's depiction of costumed runners speaks to rituals, perhaps related to athletic competition or even military readiness. Editor: That makes sense. It seems so functional as an object and rich with symbolic meaning. Do you think the imagery and the object's function were intertwined? Curator: Absolutely. The running figures may relate to agricultural fertility or message delivery within the Moche state. And how did Moche leadership use images and objects to broadcast ideologies or social values? Editor: So the depiction of runners could have reinforced ideas about physical prowess or the importance of messengers within the state. Were these objects accessible to everyone? Curator: Likely not. Exquisite pieces like this would likely be tied to elite consumption or ritual use. The labor invested in the piece alone indicates high value. What do you notice about the craftsmanship? Editor: I see a complex rendering of figures in motion on a rounded surface, so their skills were considerable. I'm curious about what kinds of public programs could expand engagement with such cultural artifacts in the museum setting. Curator: Exactly. We could explore the social dynamics and the Moche people through their art, inviting conversations about who art served, the relationship between sport and ritual, and even political propaganda. Editor: Thank you. This object gives such tangible form to the past.