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 and jugs, are among the most popular artefacts excavated from Iranian graves, especially the ones from Susa in south-western 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.
Ancient Persian Terracotta Beaker
£ 225.00
An Ancient Persian terracotta beaker. The vessel, featuring a cylindrical body, sits on a shallow discoid foot a features a very lightly flaring rim. On the vessel’s body, a register of continuous decoration featuring two stocky birds in profile, both with a single large eye and a curved beak. Between the birds, two stylized trees. Three parallel lines border the decoration to the bottom. To the top, one band of geometrical decoration is sided by two lines at the bottom and one thicker line running along the rim to the top. A beautiful example of ancient pottery craftsmanship from Ancient Persia.
Provenance: Formerly from a late Japanese gentleman's collection, 1970s-2010s.
Condition: Very fine, some minor chips to the foot. Some loss of pigmentation due to ageing. Earthly encrustations all over, some light indentations.
SOLD
| Dimensions | W 7 x H 11.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Pottery | Terracotta |
| Region | Near East (Western Asiatic) |
