Stirrup-Spout Vessel
There is a lot of pre-Columbian pottery on display in Lima’s Museo Larco. Above is a stirrup-spout vessel, a design that originated some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago in South America.
Stirrup-Spout Vessel
These main vessels were pour-cast in a mold, and the stirrup-shaped spouts were handcrafted and attached to the main vessels. The exteriors were then decoratively finished.
Stirrup-Spout Vessel
Not all ancient Peruvian pottery on display at Museo Larco is functional. Some examples are entirely decorative.
Museo Larco pottery
Museo Larco pottery
There’s even an example of ancient Peruvian Corningware®:
Ancient Corningware® — just kidding
Actually, that above image is of a display stand in the museum. In addition to pottery there are also examples of tapestry and decorative fish:
Museo Larco tapestry
Fish lures — Just kidding
Museo Larco is home to gold artifacts as well:
Museo Larco gold
Then there’s this stunning display of ancient Peruvian brain surgery:
Indications of brain surgery — Not kidding
Yes, these holes were made into the skulls of living people, people who continued to live well afterward as evidenced by the regeneration of bone material at the sites of the removals.
On Wednesday we’ll continue our tour of Museo Larco with images of the grounds, more gold artifacts, and even a very brief look at the erotic pottery collection. Did that last one get your attention? Until then, here’s one last pottery image for today:
Museo Larco pottery
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
