Western Asiatic Stone Bowl with Birds

3RD MILLENNIUM B.C.

4 3/8 in. (273 grams, 11.2 cm).

Hemispherical in profile with narrow rim, frieze of perching birds in relief, each with a pellet eye, stub beak, large comma-shaped hatched wing and leg held horizontally beneath the body; rim chipped.

Provenance

with Holy Lands House, Israel, 1960s.
Private collection, 2005.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate no.12595-232195.

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, and 90, for a bird in similar style engraved on metal.

Footnotes

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

CONDITION

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LOT 1165