Stirrup-spout bottle with incised designs

The type of decoration and finish indicate that this stirrup-handle bottle probably comes from Tecapa and Santone in the Jequetepeque Valley, and represents a Cupisnique sub-style. In the body of this exquisitely made vessel there are delicate incisions outlining plant designs and black stylized feline heads on a red background, color tones obtained by firing the vessel in an oxidizing atmosphere. Under the effects of hallucinogens the high priests went into a trance to communicate with the gods, and while under the effects were presumably inspired to create the imaginary mythological corpus that characterizes Cupisnique art. (CP)