Ancient Central Asia, southern Azerbaijan and northern Iran, Ardabil region, Meshkinshar, Middle Bronze Age, ca. 2000 BCE. An enormous, hand-built blackware pottery jar that was perhaps used as a sizable cooking vessel. The exterior surfaces are covered in dark gray and black hues that have been smoothed via stone burnishing, and a central horizontal band is delineated by a pair of raised parallel ribs. Vessels like this example were likely suspended over a fire and used to heat water or another liquid that was then poured out via the spout. A dish of such grand scale and skilled craftsmanship as this example would have been reserved for the elite of ancient society. Size: 19.1" Diameter x 14.75" H (48.5 cm x 37.5 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

Provenance: private Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA collection, via inheritance; Leota Furlong Agett Persian Pottery collection, acquired in Tehran, Iran in the early 1960s

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#175005

Stabilization and restoration to a few fissures along rim, with resurfacing and overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and fading to pigment, with light earthen deposits, and a few spalls, otherwise in excellent condition. Great preservation to overall form given large size. Previous inventory label inside rim. TL drill holes beneath base and along top rim.