Moche Terracotta Figure - 22 cm

Kneeling Huaco Warrior

- EX SOTHEBY'S -

Moche, Peru

400 - 700 AD

Terracotta

Height 22 cm

PROVENANCE: Collection of Dorothy C. Treney, New Jersey (USA) acquired at Sotheby's, New York (USA), December 1993, lot 0913. With Spanish export license

CONDITION: Restored in the center of the helmet and the attached handle with restoration in the cracks.


Only EU bidders. NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE EUROPE.

DESCRIPTION:

Huacos are closed vessels with a spherical or carved body, a flat base, and a tubular handle in the form of a stirrup. They were, and still are, one of the main elements that allow us to understand not only the characteristics of this pre-Hispanic culture but also its society, the natural environment in which it developed, and the various stages of its cultural evolution. Its name derives from huaca, the name referring to the tomb of this culture, as these vessels were also intended to form part of the grave of the deceased.

The Moche culture inhabited the coast of present-day northern Peru, centered in the Lambayeque, Chicama, Moche, and Virú valleys. This desert region is intersected by several rivers that drain into the Pacific Ocean, where marine resources are abundant.

The Moche people began as an agrarian-maritime culture, but after expanding into inland territories, they focused more on agriculture and pastoralism. They diverted river water to irrigate their extensive crops, including cotton, corn, peanuts, and beans. They raised herds of llamas, domesticated dogs, and guinea pigs. They harvested marine resources from the coast for their own use and for trade with inland groups. All these activities generated a surplus of goods, which were stored in silos and granaries managed by the Moche authorities.

The Moche produced fine ceramic, textile, and precious metal works. Their distinctive style can be seen in a wide range of products, such as engraved gourds, wall murals, feather work, body painting, and tattoos. Their ceramic decoration displays a rarely surpassed level of skill and incorporates techniques such as incising, stamped relief, and painting on smooth surfaces. Many of these were created in state-owned workshops that mass-produced pieces from molds. Their ceramics took on a variety of decorative forms and styles, and also depicted myths and ritual motifs. Among these clay forms, the so-called "portrait bottles," bottles bearing the face of a famous Moche figure, are noteworthy. These highly detailed facial portraits reflect the Moche's use of face painting and/or tattoos, as well as elaborate headdresses. This portraiture skill can also be observed in everyday scenes and erotic depictions, as well as in figures of people who were hunched, blind, or otherwise impaired. They were skilled metalworkers, using gold, copper, and silver to craft ear jewelry, nose rings, bracelets, beads, tweezers, and various tools. Of particular note was the tumi, or ceremonial knife, which was typically carried only by Moche officials.

At its zenith, Moche culture appears to have been organized into two independent states, controlling the northern and southern regions, respectively. Both were highly hierarchical societies, with warriors holding high rank. In fact, the highest political position in Moche society was held by the warrior-priest figure, who was frequently represented in Moche art. Below this official were several distinct social classes, including artisans, merchants, peasants, herders, and fishermen. Prisoners of war constituted another social class in Moche society, treated as slaves and often sacrificed in honor of the gods.

Moche pottery provides detailed representations of the supernatural world of their culture, including deities, myths, sacred animals, and ceremonial practices. Their deities take the form of foxes, owls, hummingbirds, falcons, and felines. These figures were servants of greater gods, who had human form and wore elaborate costumes and ferocious faces with crossed fangs.

The tombs of important Moche figures were rectangular and made of brick, with niches for offerings. Some bodies were placed on reed mats, others were left in caves in reed coffins. Elite individuals were buried with metal masks and an extensive assortment of grave goods, servants, and animals. The famous "Lord of Sipán" is the most notable example of this type of burial.

Many of the motifs decorating early Moche pottery are derived from the Recuay culture. These two peoples were certainly in contact, as all the irrigation waters the Moche used in their valleys flowed from Recuay territory. In the early years, the Moche also had contact with groups from the Salinar and Gallinazo cultures. It is very likely that the Moche disappeared when they were taken over by the Wari Empire, but their civilization also suffered from prolonged periods of flooding due to the El Niño phenomenon, which destroyed their agricultural infrastructure and may have contributed to their decline. The final stage of Moche culture contains features that would later appear in Chimú culture.


Remarks
- The set comes with a certificate of authenticity.
- The piece includes a Spanish export license (European Union passport).
- Under Spanish law, goods shipped outside the European Union are subject to export tax and will be added to the invoice at the buyer's expense. These export taxes are determined based on the final auction price. The tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the exported item, but rather varies in percentages according to the following sections:
- Up to 6,000 euros: 5%.
- From 6,001 to 60,000 euros: 10%.
The process of applying for an export license may take a maximum of 1-2 months.
- The seller warrants that he or she has acquired this item in compliance with all national and international laws regarding the ownership of cultural property. A declaration of origin is available from Catawiki.

Salespeople's stories
The Barcelona-based Gallery of Ancient Art - Archeologia has over fifteen years of experience. Specializing in classical, Egyptian, Asian, and pre-Columbian art, it guarantees the authenticity of all pieces. It participates in the most important art fairs in Spain, such as Feriarte, as well as international fairs such as BRAFA, Parcours des Mondes, and Cultures Brussels. All works are shipped with an export permit issued by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. We ship quickly via DHL Express or Direct Art Transport.
Translated by Google Translate
Culture
Moche, Peru
Material
Terracotta
Item
Kneeling Huaco Warrior. EX SOTHEBY'S. 400-700 AD. 22 cm. H. With Spanish export license.
Century/Time Frame
400 - 700 AD
Stan
renovated
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Shipping cost
Shipping to Poland:
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