Gray Chlorite
Bactrian region
Mid-third millennium BC, Intercultural Style
Vessel with a convex-shaped base and steep rising slightly inverted wall, the rounded mouth rim with two flat side handles below, all with criss-cross decoration
The exterior with a combined leopard-man design in relief with two standing figures, their bodies in full-frontal view, the heads with long hair in profile, each figure with half-stretched and raised arms holding two leopards hanging down
Below each handle two confronting scorpions carved in relief in combined top view and in profile
The eyes of the figures and animals formely filled-in with shell inlays
Height: 26 cm, diameter at mouth rim: 22.5 cm
Provenance: from an old European private collection, documented in the estate of the family since the early 20th century

Compare similar objects illustrated in: Aruz, Joan/Wallenfels, Ronald (eds.), Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus. Exhib. Cat. Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y, New York 2003, p. 335-339.

Condition

Condition consistent with age, one hole in the wall

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