Description
Rare Pre-Columbian Moche Portrait Vessel – Dwarf Musician with Panpipes – Peru, 700–900 AD
An exceptional and highly unusual Pre-Columbian Moche greyware portrait vessel, depicting a diminutive personage or dwarf musician playing panpipes. This rare sculptural ceramic, dating to the Moche IV period (circa 700–900 AD), features expressive detailing including a crown-style headdress, flowing hair, and an axe carried at the side—suggesting both ceremonial and symbolic importance.
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Culture: Moche Civilization, Northern Peru
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Period: Moche IV, circa 700–900 AD
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Region: Pre-Columbian South America
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Material: Greyware ceramic
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Subject: Dwarf figure playing panpipes, wearing a headdress and carrying an axe
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Condition: Two prongs of the headdress have been professionally restored; otherwise intact and well preserved
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Provenance: From the Romy Rey Collection, UK – acquired before 1960
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Additional Detail: Retains an old collection label on the base
Cultural Context:
The Moche culture, predating the Inca Empire, is renowned for its lifelike portrait vessels and ceremonial ceramics. This figure, possibly representing a ritual performer or symbolic character, reflects the Moche’s complex social structure, musical traditions, and representation of marginalized figures with spiritual or narrative roles.
This rare South American artifact is a compelling addition for collectors of Pre-Columbian art, Moche pottery, or anyone interested in Indigenous Latin American visual culture. A true conversation piece that bridges archaeology, anthropology, and art history.
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