Chimú Ceramic Pitcher. Spanish Import License. - 28.5 cm

Chimú ceramic vessel (c. 1500 AD)

A collectible item with a Spanish Import License and complete documentation.

Part Details

Culture: Chimú
Time Frame / Century: c. 1500 AD
Ceremonial vessel / Ship (Ceramic vessel)
Material: Ceramic
Condition: Excellent condition.
Dimensions:
Height: 28.5 cm
Length: 23 cm

Current origin

Auction house/2025/Spain

Origin and previous documentation

Origin: Chimú, Peru.
Provenance: Private collection, France.
Acquired: Before 1970.
Documentation Included
Certificate of Authenticity
Export License
Spanish Import License
Declaration of origin

Legal Note: The seller guarantees that the item was obtained legally and complies with all relevant national and international laws regarding the possession of cultural property. The complete documentation for the sale is included.

History and Context of the Chimú Culture (c. 900 - 1470 AD)

The Chimú culture developed along the northern coast of Peru, with its capital at the monumental city of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in America. The Chimú civilization flourished until it was conquered by the Inca Empire around 1470 C.E.

The Meaning of Black Ceramics

The Chimú were heirs to the pottery tradition of the Moche culture. Their ceramics are distinctive for being almost uniformly a shiny black color. This color was not achieved through an glaze but through a firing process in a closed and reduced environment (low in oxygen), which produced a characteristic smoky and glossy hue.

Function of the Vessels

These vessels, known as huacos, were not merely utilitarian; they held a deep social and ritual significance.
Ceremonials and Funeral Practices: Many items were placed as funerary offerings in the burials of the elite to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.
Representation: Chimú potters specialized in sculptural vessels, such as this piece, which often depict mythical figures, animals (marine birds, fish), plants, and, crucially, scenes of daily life and rituals. The vessel type 'Buque' (Vessel) typically featured handles shaped like stirrups or bridges connecting the mouth of the vessel, a stylistic hallmark of the Andes.
Pieces like this would have been used in ritual exchanges, offerings, or to store liquids (such as chicha) in ceremonial contexts.
This vessel is a tangible testament to the sophisticated art and the rich worldview of one of the most important pre-Columbian cultures of South America.