Chimú Ceramic Pitcher. Spanish Import License. - 28.5 cm

Chimú Ceramic Vessel (c. 1500 CE)

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

Details of the Piece:

Culture: Chimú
Time Frame / Century: c. 1500 CE
Object: Ceremonial Vessel / Ship (Ceramic Vessel)
Material: Ceramic
Condition: Excellent state of preservation.
Dimensions:
Height: 28.5 cm
Length: 23 cm

Current Provenance

Auction House/2025/Spain

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

Legal Note: The seller guarantees that the piece was obtained legally and complies with all national and international laws relating to the possession of cultural property. All documentation required for the sale is included.

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

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

The Meaning of Black Ceramics

The Chimú inherited the pottery tradition from the Moche culture. Their ceramics are distinctive for being almost uniformly a bright black color. This color was not achieved with glaze, but through a firing process in a closed, oxygen-poor environment, which produced a characteristic smoky and lustrous finish.

Function of the Vessels

These vessels, known as huacos, were not merely utilitarian; they carried deep social and ritual significance:
Ceremonial and Funeral: Many pieces were placed as funerary attire 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 mythological figures, animals (marine birds, fish), plants, and, crucially, scenes of daily life and rituals. The vessel type “Buque” (Vessel) typically had handles in the shape of stirrups or bridges connecting the mouth of the vessel, an Andean stylistic hallmark.
Use: Pieces like this would have been used in ritual exchanges, offerings, or to store liquids (such as chicha) in ceremonial contexts.
This vessel stands as a tangible testament to the sophisticated art and rich worldview of one of the most important pre-Columbian cultures in South America.