The sea is a predominant theme in the art of the Chimú. Architecture and portable objects visibly represent sea creatures, shells, fishermen, boats, waves, and the many species of sea birds that are found on its shores. This bottle is an excellent representation of a pelican, rendered in the form of a single-spouted bottle with oval base. The bottle is covered in a black-slip paint and reduced fired, a technique common to Chimú ceramics. The bottle is mold-made with hand-modeled and incised detail. A second figure, possibly a bird, is modeled on the reverse of the spout. The net design and shape of the spout serve as its headdress. - Lisa DeLeonardis, June 2016