Zoomorphic vessel

Object Details

• Description

  An animal shaped vessel hand-built of orange/brown earthenware with modeled details. The surface is smooth and burnished. The neck is high and tubular and rises up to an out-flaring rim, with a single strap handle extending from the neck to the rounded, "egg shaped" body. The spout is modeled like an animal neck and head, with ears pointing upward and appliqued button-like eyes. There is an incised row of inverted "v" decoration down the back of the vessel (like a mane) and the back of the handle (like a tail). At the bottom of the vessle are three little feet, the vessel tends to lean forward.

  The animal head spout and the handle have been broken and repaired. Excess adhesive can be seen along the handle repairs. Scattered wear, abrasions across the surface, and some deep scratches. Minor chips missing from the rim. Scattered dirt/accretions obscure much of the surface. Overall, in fair-good condition.

• Provenance

  ?-2005

  Mr. and Mrs. Osborne (1914-2004) and Gratia Hauge (d. 2000) [1]

  From 2005

  The National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, by gift of Osborne and Gratia Hauge, and Victor and Takako Hauge [2]

  Notes:

  [1] The Hauge family began collecting Asian paintings, sculpture, and ceramics in the late 1940s and would amass a large collection in the post-World War II years.

  [2] Ownership of collected objects sometimes changed between members of the Hauge families. See Deed of Gift, dated October 16, 2005, copy in object file. From 2005-2023 the work was part of the National Museum of Asian Art’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection and on March 21, 2023, the work was internally transferred to the National Museum of Asian Art Collection.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Gratia Hauge

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Gift of Osborne and Gratia Hauge

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Hauge, Osborne and Gratia

• Topic

  Art, Animals, Hauge collection, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Pottery, Ceramics

• Culture

  Iranians, Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)