Ancient Persian Terracotta Jar with a Frieze of Birds

$284.34

An Ancient Persian terracotta jar featuring a globular body leading to a short, slightly everted neck. The vessel sits on a small, flat ring foot. The jar is further decorated with a register of four birds, all facing right featuring exaggerated, glaring eyes and vertical lines across the bodies. Two continuous bands enclose the bottom of the register while four sit above.

Date: Circa 3rd-2nd Millennium BC
Condition: Fine condition, some minor chips to rim and slight flaking to the body.

SOLD

SKU: LD-337 Category: Tags: , ,

Ancient Iranian artistic production dating to the 3rd millennium BC is characterised by finely potted, high fired terracotta vessels, usually enriched by dark pigmented geometric or zoomorphic decorations. Such vessels would have been produced to store food, but also as burial goods to be placed with the deceased in the tomb. Flaring cups/jars, such as this fine example, are among the most popular artefacts excavated from Iranian graves, especially the ones from Susa in southwestern Iran. Although the first examples of Ancient Iranian pottery production display simple shapes and stylised decorative motives, terracotta wares evolved embracing aesthetics driven from all the cultures Ancient Iran and later the Persian Empire entered in contact with.

Weight 219.4 g
Dimensions H 9.6 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

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