Large Bactrian Black Chlorite Vessel with Opposing Pairs of Serpents

3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.

7 in. (2 kg, 18 cm wide).

Drum-shaped vessel with reserved frieze to the outer face: pairs of opposed snakes with bodies entwined; shallow socket to each of the eyes to accept an inlay panel. [No Reserve]

Provenance

with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1960s.
Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s.
London, UK, collection.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.12772-237880.

Literature

Cf. Salvatori, S., ‘Early Bactrian Objects in private collections’ in Ligabue, G., and Salvatori, S., Bactria. An Ancient Oasis from the Sands of Afghanistan, Venice, 1988, pp.181-7, fig.84, for vessels with figures of animals in the same style; Aruz, J. (ed.), Art Of The First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2003, p.326, for similar vessel.

Footnotes

The chlorite stone vessels of early Bactria were kidney-shaped vessels with simple geometric decoration or cylindrical like our specimen. Small cylindrical vases were used as cosmetic containers, together with chlorite cosmetic flasks.

CONDITION

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LOT 0209