Zoomorphic vessel

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, with a single strap handle extending from the neck to the rounded, “football shaped” body. The spout is modeled like an animal neck and head, with ears point upward and appliqueed button-like eyes. There is an incised row of inverted “v” decoration down the back of the spout (like a mane) and the back of the handle (like a tail) and there is incised decoration around the base of the neck as well. At the bottom of the vessela are three chubby little feet.

Two areas of loss at the rim have been filled with a tinted plaster/putty. One of the fills has broken away leaving bits of residue. Scattered wear and abrasion, mostly on one side; firing flaws/burnt out inclusions. Well preserved burnished surface on one side. Overall, in very good condition.

Historical period(s)
Iron Age I - II, 1400-800 BCE
Medium
Burnished earthenware
Dimensions
H x W x D: 19.4 x 27.2 x 14.3 cm (7 5/8 x 10 11/16 x 5 5/8 in)
Geography
Iran, Germi
Credit Line
Gift of Osborne and Gratia Hauge
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1998.206
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Zoomorphic vessel

Keywords
animal, earthenware, Hauge collection, Iran, Iron Age I (ca. 1450 - 1250 BCE), Iron Age II (ca. 1250 - 800 BCE), WWII-era provenance
Provenance

From circa 1950-1970 to 1998
Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Gratia Hauge [1]

From 1998
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Gratia Hauge in 1998

Notes:

[1] Object record. Purchased by the Hauges in Tehran between 1950-1970.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Gratia Hauge (1914-2004) and (died 2000)

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, with a single strap handle extending from the neck to the rounded, "football shaped" body. The spout is modeled like an animal neck and head, with ears point upward and appliqueed button-like eyes. There is an incised row of inverted "v" decoration down the back of the spout (like a mane) and the back of the handle (like a tail) and there is incised decoration around the base of the neck as well. At the bottom of the vessela are three chubby little feet.

Two areas of loss at the rim have been filled with a tinted plaster/putty. One of the fills has broken away leaving bits of residue. Scattered wear and abrasion, mostly on one side; firing flaws/burnt out inclusions. Well preserved burnished surface on one side. Overall, in very good condition.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort, Massumeh Farhad, Ann C. Gunter. Asian Traditions in Clay: The Hauge Gifts. Washington, 2000. cat. 19, pp. 29, 54.
Collection Area(s)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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