Handle Spout Jug with Fineline Bird Motifs c. 100 - 500

This jug was made by the Moche people of ancient Peru, using clay and mineral pigments. The Moche were exceptional ceramicists, and though we don't know the exact dates, this piece is a great example of their sophisticated methods, especially the mastery of mold-made forms. Notice how the spout and handle are integrated, rather than being added on separately. The surface is skillfully painted, and the pigments are all-natural. You can see the warm reddish tones which come from iron oxides in the local clay. Like most Moche ceramics, it wasn't intended as a work of "art" in the modern sense. Instead, these vessels were made to be used and to be buried with the dead. So think about the labor, the materials, and the social context all coming together. With this perspective, we can come to a richer understanding of the jug, as an object of both beauty and cultural importance.