Ancient Persian Terracotta Jar with Birds

$347.52

A fine Ancient Persian terracotta jar featuring a globular body leading to a short neck and an everted, folded rim. The jar is further enriched with a register of four birds, all facing right, crouching with their beaks level with their feet. The bodies are decorated with vertical lines, a collection of dots are next to the beaks, possibly imitating grass. Four circles with a larger circle outline are placed above the birds. Two continuous bands frame the bottom of the register with one band at the top. The neck is painted in black pigment.

Date: Circa 3rd-2nd Millennium BC
Condition: Fine condition, earthly encrustation covers the surface.

SOLD

SKU: LD-333 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, 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 323.2 g
Dimensions H 12.4 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

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