Huaco; Moche Culture, Peru, 400-700 AD.

Huaco; Moche Culture, Peru, 400-700 AD.
Terracotta.
Slight wear and tear.
Measurements: 25 x 12 x 10 cm.
Huaco exceptional for its technical quality and fineness with stirrup handle and container with the shape of a male head, a portrait that represents a person of great social relevance in the Moche culture, this could be the image of a warrior or high dignitary. The modeling of the piece has been done with great realism that can be seen in the details of the face, which highlights the bichrome of the eyes. It is worth mentioning the chromatic play, not only in the eyes but in the whole piece, a characteristic that makes it an image of great expressiveness and ornamental richness. Another relevant aspect is the scarification on the upper lip, which gives veracity to the portrait that makes up the body of the vessel.
The Moche artisans achieved masterpieces in ceramics, weaving and goldsmithing. Their characteristic style encompasses the most diverse materials, such as pyrography gourds, mural painting, feather art, and body painting and tattooing. The decoration of the ceramics demonstrates a mastery of pottery work rarely surpassed, resorting to the techniques of incising, bas-relief by means of stamping and painting on smooth surfaces. An important part of these objects were made in specialized workshops controlled by the state, in which pieces were made in series with molds. These vessels not only show a great variety of shapes and decorative styles, but also bear representations of myths and rituals. Among the ceramic forms, the so-called "portrait bottles" or vessels where the face of an important personality in society is portrayed stand out. In them it is possible to observe in great detail the characteristic facial features, the use of facial painting or tattoos and the use of complicated headdresses. This "portrait" capacity of Moche pottery can also be observed in the representations of possibly daily scenes or in erotic scenes, as well as in the effigies that show hunchbacks, blind people, harelips and other illnesses.