Chimú Phase ceramics developed on the north coast of Peru, out of Moche antecedents, around the end of the first millennium AD. Chimú potters repeated, borrowed and transformed many Moche vessel forms and manufacturing techniques. For example, one of the most popular Chimú vessel forms is the stirrup-spout bottle, typical of the previous Moche culture. Chimú stirrup-spout bottles often have little animal figures added on the top of the stirrup spout.Chimú Phase ceramics are typically manufactured with a two-piece mould. In contrast to the Moche, however, Chimú vessels are usually black in colour because they are fired in closed, hermetic kilns. This special technique prevents air from penetrating in the firing atmosphere and oxygen from altering iron molecules, a chemical process which gives fired clay its reddish colour.Chimú pots are often decorated, but painting is rare. Instead, potters made frequent use of press relief techniques. Seals are pressed on vessels' walls in order to produce a wide range of naturalistic and supernatural designs.The Chimú were fascinated by the sea, and they made many references to it on their ceramics. These references are mainly visible in the predominance of fish, sea bird and sea mammal depictions. Influences from the Peruvian highlands also account for the development of the Chimú style. Chimú Phase ceramics were produced on a large scale, unprecedented on the north coast of Peru. Their distribution corresponds to the territorial expansion of the Chimor kingdom.