MOCHICA, Pérou, 100-500 ap. J.-C.

Vase stirrup representing a parrot, 17 x 21 x 8 cm, certificate Jean and Huguette RAMIE, the 16/04/93. This vase in hollow terra cotta represents a macaw, a flaming bird considered as a solar symbol. It is distinguished by its remarkable naturalism and the red-orange slip which covers it and which has kept all its brightness. The head is raised and the body slanted. The hooked and prominent beak is open. The eyes are rounded and slightly sunken inside the orbit and around the edges. The wings are folded over the bird's powerful body and are particularly detailed. The abdomen is bulging. The legs, with thick talons, are firmly anchored to the ground. The tapered tail rests on the ground. The stirrup handle, typical of ancient Peruvian clay vases, is attached to the back of the neck. The rounded neck extends well beyond the parrot's head.