B.C. – Engraved Blackware Ceramic A striking Pre-Columbian stirrup-spout vessel from the Late Chavín / Cupisnique tradition, dating to approximately 500–300 B.C. This piece exemplifies the sophisticated ceramic artistry of ancient Peru, with its distinctive form and symbolic surface decoration. Culture: Late Chavín / Cupisnique
 Region: Northern Highlands and North Coast, Peru
 Period: ca. 500–300 B.C.
 Material: Fired clay (ceramic), blackened through oxygen-reduction firing
 Dimensions: [Insert if known]
 Condition: Intact with surface wear consistent with age; mounted for display
 Features: Dual-channeled neck converging at a single stirrup spout
 Everted rim
 Engraved mythological motifs and textured accents
 This vessel’s dark, polished surface and incised geometric detailing reflect the ceremonial and symbolic importance of stirrup-spout forms in early Andean cultures. The stirrup shape—both functional and iconic—was used to control liquid flow and may have held ritual significance. The engraved designs likely reference mythological or cosmological themes central to Chavín belief systems. Such vessels were often placed in tombs or ceremonial caches, serving as offerings or status markers. The black coloration is achieved through a controlled firing process that limits oxygen, a hallmark of Cupisnique and Chavín ceramic technology. Europe only!!!