Ancient Persian Terracotta Jar with Fishes

$242.57

A fine Ancient Persian terracotta jar featuring a globular body leading to a short neck and an everted rim. The vessel is further enriched with a register of two fishes, both with exaggerated wide eyes painted in black pigment. Underneath is a continuous band framing the scene. The neck and rim are painted completely black.

Date: Circa 3rd-2nd Millennium BC
Condition: Fine condition, repair to the body and minor chip to rim. Earthly encrustation covers the surface.

SOLD

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 289.7 g
Dimensions W 9.9 x H 9.9 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

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