Deer-Headed Figure Vessel

Description

Moche imagery includes an intriguing world of creatures that mingle traits from different realms: beans sprout human legs and race up a spout, jars leap with human feet to pour themselves, and animals wield weapons in two hands. This figure, with a stag’s head but a human’s body, is an example. He is engaged in a coca-leaf chewing ritual and thus holds a bag for the leaves along with a container of powdered lime that is one of the ritual’s key ingredients.

Provenance

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Deer-Headed Figure Vessel

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200–850 CE

Accession Number

2008.1

Medium

ceramic, slip

Dimensions

Overall: 26.5 x 14 x 25.5 cm (10 7/16 x 5 1/2 x 10 1/16 in.)

Classification

Vessels

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Jo Hershey Selden Fund