Chimú Blackware Phytomorphic Stirrup Spout Whistling Vessel

Pre-Columbian Era, Chimú Culture, c. 800-1470 AD, Moche Valley, Trujillo, Peru

This rare and unusual phytomorphic blackware whistling vessel, exquisitely mold-formed, embodies the Chimú civilization’s sophisticated ceramic artistry and deep-rooted spiritual symbolism. Designed in the shape of a seed or kernel, this vessel reflects the Chimú’s reverence for agriculture and fertility, themes central to their cosmology and daily life.

The vessel features a horizontal seed-shaped body with a conical protrusion on one side, a stirrup-shaped handle, and a cylindrical spout from which a whistle emerges at the center. Whistling jars of this kind were ingeniously designed—either blown into manually or activated when liquid was poured between chambers, producing a bird-like twittering sound that likely held ceremonial or ritual significance.

Like most Chimú ceramics, this piece was crafted using mold-production techniques and subjected to reduction firing, which deprived the kiln of oxygen, transforming the clay into a rich black hue. Its smooth, polished finish was achieved through meticulous stone burnishing, a hallmark of Chimú pottery. While many Chimú vessels were designed for everyday use, whistling vessels such as this were primarily used in ceremonial contexts, possibly in rituals related to fertility, agricultural cycles, or communication with the spirit world.

A remarkable and rare artifact, this whistling vessel is a testament to Chimú ingenuity, symbolism, and artistic mastery—a museum-worthy piece for any collector of pre-Columbian art and Andean antiquities.

Excellent condition. Intact. Light wear commensurate with age and use. Size approx. 13,5cm x 8,5cm x 18,0cm.

Provenance: According to information, from the collection of Paul Ragnar Wedendal Sr. & Paul Wedendal Jr. Wedendal Sr. acquired Pre-Columbian art during his travels in the 1940s-1950s.