Pre-Columbian Moche IV Shaman Figural Vessel or architectural adornment

or architectural adornment

and painted facial panels

The torso is carefully modeled with applied shoulder ornaments and a necklace rendered in relief

Recuay house vessels are among the most distinctive sculptural forms of ancient Andean pottery

Such masks were placed over the head of the deceased as part of funerary rites

Pre-Columbian Moche IV Shaman Figural Vessel or architectural adornmentA finely modeled Pre Columbian figural vessel from the Moche culture of ancient Peru, dating to approximately 100700 CE (Moche Phase IV). The vessel depicts a shamanic or ritual specialist figure, shown holding a cluster of ulluchu fruitan element closely associated with Moche ceremonial and sacrificial iconography. The figure is rendered with a composed, stylized expression, framed by large earspools and an elaborate headdress incorporating a