Uruk Alabaster Jar with Decorated Shoulder

$1,390.08

An extremely rare alabaster jar from the Sumer city of Uruk in a light tan colour. The jar features a flared rim, short neck and four short lug handles around the body, pierced and finely decorated with band of cross hatching carved into the shoulder.

Date: Circa 2nd Millennium BC
Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; formerly in an important Mayfair, London, UK, collection; inventory number 2327; acquired in the 1990s.
Condition: Fine condition, repaired. Very rare.

SOLD

SKU: PM-78 Categories: ,

The Sumer city of Uruk was one of the most important cities in ancient Mesopotamia. The city is situated on the east of the present bed of Euphrates river. The city played a leading role in the early urbanisation of Sumer in the mid-4th millennium BC.

Alabaster was well-known and widely used in the ancient world, especially in Egypt and Mesopotamia. “Gypsum alabaster” was used to craft small sculptures, vessels dedicated to the cult of a deity, and for artefacts.

 

Weight 262.7 g
Dimensions L 7 cm
Culture

Region

Stone

You may also like…