Bird-shaped Pitcher

This bird-shaped pitcher has a long neck that extends at a right angle from the rest of the body and a prominent crest of feathers atop the head for additional emphasis. The rounded pedestal is attached to the bottom of the belly. The body is hollow, with holes at the spine and tail where liquid could be poured. Bird-shaped pitchers were specifically made for burial ceremonies, and are indicative of the belief that birds were the medium that guided the spirit to the afterlife.