Portrait Bottle of Nobleman with Lip Scar

About the Art

The Moche are the only civilization in the Americas before European contact to develop true portraiture, that is, representations of people that are recognizable individuals. They display a startlingly high level of accuracy—even preserving physical anomalies such as scars, a missing eye or a harelip—and convey a sense of personality and individuality. For example, look at the lower lip of this figure. The DAI was not sure if this was an accidental chip or intentional. Comparing it with other existing portrait vessels of the same person revealed it was a distinct feature.

Most of the portrait vessels known today come from graves, but they were made for, and show evidence of, use and may have contained chicha, a corn beverage. There is no evidence they were buried with the depicted person; rather, vessels depicting the same individual have been found at different locations, suggesting portrait vessels circulated to strengthen relationships. There is still much that is unknown about why these were made and how they were used.

FEATURED IMAGE
Artist(s) unknown (Peru, North Coast, Moche), Portrait Bottle of Nobleman with Lip Scar, 450–550 CE, earthenware and slip paint, height 11 1/4 inches (28.6 cm). Museum purchase with funds provided in large part by the Jefferson Patterson Anniversary Endowment, 1973.85