# Portrait Head Vessel

- Date: c. 200–550 CE
- Medium: earthenware with colored slips
- Classification: Sculpture
- Dimensions: Overall: 32 x 18.6 x 19.3 cm (12 5/8 x 7 5/16 x 7 5/8 in.)
- Culture: Peru, North Coast, Moche style
- Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gruener
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1990.227)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1990.227/1990.227_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

The Moche were unique in ancient Peru in creating realistic human portraits, usually in the form of ceramic vessels. In general, such vessels represent more than 750 individuals; identities are unclear but most are elite men, some probably rulers. The stirrup-shaped spout is a hallmark of Moche ceramic production.