Pre-Columbian, North Coast of Peru, Moche, Phase IV, ca. 400 to 650 CE. A hand-built and highly burnished vessel depicting a seated merchant offering one of his wares: a grid-patterned tunic. The vessel exhibits a slightly rounded but stable base, a stylized anthropomorphic body with a raised head, and a stirrup-shaped handle with a cylindrical spout rising above; the triangular tassel end of his own tunic draped behind his right shoulder. The merchant stares out with cream-painted, almond-shaped eyes and bears a prominent nose, ornamented ears, and deep nasolabial folds flanking the mouth, all beneath a minimalist cap. Size: 6.1" W x 8.4" H (15.5 cm x 21.3 cm) Provenance: ex-Splendors of the World, Haiku, Hawaii, USA, before 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #173449