 | Apolonia Ancient Art |
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Massive Moche Seated Royal Prisoner browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Americas:Pre Columbian:Pottery: Pre AD 1000: item # 621516
Apolonia Ancient Art 290 Fillmore St. #D Denver, CO. 80206 303-321-7351 gallery Guest Book On Hold |
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| This massive seated Moche polychrome ceramic is approximately 18.25 inches high and is in superb condition. This piece has no over paint, the colors are all original, and it is intact, save for some very minor repair to some minor stress cracks in the main body. This piece dates circa 200-500 A.D. and is from the Middle Mochica period. (For the type see Christopher Donnan, "Moche Art of Peru", Museum of Cultural History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1978, no. 247.) This massive vessel is a seated prisoner who is seen facing forward with his hands clasped at the front. There is a rope seen around his neck and he is nude, as he was stripped of all clothing and jewelry, which was the custom for live Moche captives that were about to be sacrificed to the gods. This prisoner is probably royal, as he has large holes in the lower ear lobes that held large ear flares that the Moche elite were associated with, and his hands are at the front. Virtually all of these Moche prisoner ceramics have their hands tied behind their backs, but this prisoner is seen in a more dignified manner, and this may indicate his elevated status. The portrait of the royal person seen here may be one of an actual individual, as the Moche produced ceramics that are as realistic as a photograph, as they strove to depict actual living individuals. (For Moche production of true portraits of individuals see C. Donnan, "Moche Portraits of Ancient Peru", University of Texas Press, 2004.) The vessel seen here is an important example of Moche art, not only for the fine art seen, but also relative to the rare type. The seated prisoner with the hands in front may signify that he is pleading for his life, but more likely, he is offering himself to the gods. This is what truly separates this piece from other Moche ceramics of this type, and in addition, the head of this piece is as large and detailed as most singular Moche portrait-head vessels. This superb large scale piece has spotty black mineral deposits in sections of the vessel and has exceptional eye appeal. Ex: Kate Kemper collection, London. Ex: Private CA. collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition: | |||||||||
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