Chimu Bottle with Handle

ca.  500 AD

5.375” H x 6.75” L x 5.5" W

Hand Coiled Round Blackware with Strap Handle on one Side and two Flattened Bodies with Stylized Heads (with hats) Lying on the Top of the Handle Facing each other and Possibly North Coast Lambayeque Influence

In Good Condition with Repaired Crack and Typical Aged Wear

Chimú Stirrup Spout Vessels were a hallmark of the Chimú civilization (circa 900–1470 AD) on Peru’s north coast, renowned for their distinctive blackware finish, polished surface, and elaborate sculptural forms.  These vessels, often made using two-piece molds, were crafted from greyware terracotta and fired under reduction conditions—limiting oxygen to produce a deep black, sooty hue.  The stirrup spout, shaped like a horse’s stirrup, was a long-standing form on the North Coast, possibly serving to prevent liquid evaporation or act as a convenient handle. 

Chimú potters frequently modeled vessels into animal or human effigies, such as ducks, frogs, felines, parrots, and rays, often incorporating symbolic motifs tied to fertility, water, and agriculture.  For example, frog effigies represented water and renewal, while monkey figures at the spout junction were common, continuing a tradition from earlier Moche culture. 

Some vessels were whistling pots, producing bird-like calls when liquid moved between chambers—likely used in ceremonial or ritual contexts.  The Chimú capital, Chan Chan, was a center of artistic production, and luxury versions of these vessels were even made in silver, reflecting elite status.