163 - Sculpture; Moche Culture, Peru; 300–400 AD

Sculpture; Moche Culture, Peru; 300–400 AD Polychrome terracotta. Measurements: 15.5 x 5 x 8 cm. Provenance: Family legacy of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection formed from the 1950s by successive generations of the family, through acquisitions in European galleries and auction houses. A Mochica female sculpture cast in terracotta and decorated with polychrome paint that follows a geometric aesthetic pattern across the woman’s body and also accentuates anatomical features such as the eyes and hair.The Moche is an archaeological culture that developed along the northern coast of Peru, with its capital in the territory now known as Huacas del Sol y de la Luna. The Moche were great architects and masters of goldsmithing, and they developed an advanced irrigation system. Their ceramic production was particularly rich and creative, and through it the Moche depicted daily life and their religious beliefs. In fact, their pottery is considered the highest quality among all ancient pre-Columbian cultures. These pieces were made from red clay or, exceptionally, orange or soot-black clay, generally using molds, which allowed for mass production and a wide range of iconography.