Feline-shaped stirrup-spout bottle

Chimú artist(s)

Not on view

The ancient Peruvians depicted a broad range of animals in their art, but rarely those that were important in daily subsistence. The most commonly represented animals were ones that figured prominently in mythology and played a role in ritual life. Dogs are rarely shown, and their role in ancient Peruvian myth is not known. They may have been sacrificed to accompany the dead, for their remains are found in high-status burials. The dog on this double vessel is connected to the drinking cup by a tube and has a gold nose and ears.

Feline-shaped stirrup-spout bottle, Chimú artist(s), Silver, Chimú

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.