Monumental Amlash Beak-spouted Jug

Culture: Iran/Amlash

Period: 1050-800 B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 20.5 cm high; 38.1 cm long

Price: 4 000 Euro

Ref: 6572

Provenance: Austrian private collection Prof. Josef Mairitsch (1938-1994) with the inventory number 50A. Acquired between 1960 and the early 1980s. Thence in the family estate. With an old collection note.

Condition: At the bottom light encrustation, otherwise intact.

Description: Monumental and heavy terracotta beak-spouted jug with a brown polished surface from Amlash. The massive, round and far protruding body stands on a set off foot ring. The upper part of the wall is sculpturally decorated. Starting from the spout four knobs are vertically arranged, followed by three parallel vertical ribs. After an omission a single rib follows in front of four more knobs. At the back a semi-circular handle, which merges into a rib, which again is bordered by ribs left and right. On the other side the sculptural decoration recurs. At the front the massive beak-shaped spout horizontally protrudes and is connected via a bridge with the rim of the vessel. The spout is open slit-shaped on top, at the bottom an extension angularly protrudes, which reminds of a goat beard. Similar vessels , although rarely as large, were made from around 1400 to 800 B.C. from the central Persian region to Anatolia, with those with relief decoration originating primarily from northwest Iran. See for the type the beak-spouted jug in the Metropolitan Museum with the object number 48.98.21 from Hasanlu Tepe. With an old collection note indicating Amlash as the site.