Indus Valley cat and bird bowl

Size

9.5cm(H) x 11cm(W) / 4"(H) x 4"(W)

Item Type

Ceramic

Region

Central Asia

Condition

Good

Some restoration work.

Full Description

Indus Valley bowl.

Mid third millennium B.C

Four panels; two of the geometric motif and two animal motifs.

The geometric panels comprise the division of the surface into squares, which are themselves divided by a blue wavy line into two blocks of colour.

This possibly represents the dual forces of nature-either the occurrence of day and night or possibly the separation of land and sea, thus corresponding with the depiction of one unusual cat like animal, and one winged bird.

This bowl therefore exhibits a charming coherence and furthermore illustrates the Indus Valley peoples understanding of the dual forces of nature.