Moche IV Duck & Snake Stirrup Vessel a distinctive and dramatic symbol

a distinctive and dramatic symbol reflecting Tarentine maritime identity and mythological tradition

Distinctive black bitumen pigment remains visible across the face

Thermoluminescence testing indicates that the head is a later historic replacement dating to approximately the 18th–19th century

this dynamic standing figure embodies the vitality and expressiveness characteristic of the Classic Veracruz sculptural tradition

Moche IV Duck & Snake Stirrup Vessel a distinctive and dramatic symbolPre Columbian Moche IV Duck and Serpent Stirrup Spout Vessel Peru, Moche Culture, Phase IV, ca. 300600 CE This exceptional Moche IV ceramic stirrup spout vessel masterfully depicts a duck with a serpent coiled across its body, uniting two creatures that held important symbolic significance in Moche mythology and ritual art. The vessel is finely modeled with graceful naturalistic detail, showcasing the sophisticated sculptural tradition that defines