Amlash Terracotta Beaked Vessel - Avian Form

Ancient Near East, northwestern Iran, Amlash, ca. 1200 to 800 BCE. A burnished pottery vessel with a spherical body and a long, beak-like spout extending from the center, counterweighted by a diminutive handle extending from low on the spout to the body. The form is delightfully zoomorphic, resembling a bird. Amlash vessels were buried in large megalithic tombs, built by part of the Marlik culture. Despite its proximity to the large Mesopotamian cultures, the geographical barrier of the high Zagros and Elburz Mountains kept it relatively isolated and a very unique ceramic tradition developed there. This is an elegant example of a grave good that, based on how few graves have been found in the Amlash assemblage, seems to have been reserved only for high status individuals. Size: 5.9" W x 8.2" H (15 cm x 20.8 cm)

Provenance: private Alabama, USA collection; ex-Roy Green collection aquired prior to 2013

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#148751
Condition Report: Expertly repaired and restored from a few large pieces. This is so well done that it is almost invisible. Great deposits on surface with excellent preserved detail.