Bowl with Molded Nude Female Figure in the Interior

The Moche civilization thrived on the northern coast of Peru between the first and seventh centuries C.E. Since they left no written records, their history is told through art and artifacts. This molded bowl is an example of the erotic pottery that was common in Moche culture. Many examples survive in which various sexual acts are depicted, including masturbation and most frequently anal sex between heterosexual pairs. Many scholars believe that erotic Moche pottery was used as an educational tool to demonstrate methods of contraception.

This molded bowl depicts a nude woman lying back with her arms up, legs spread and knees bent. The prominent vaginal opening includes a clitoris and indications of a labia.