Zoomorphic vessel with a quadruped protome. Amlash culture, Iran, 1st millennium B.C.

Zoomorphic vessel with a quadruped protome. Amlash culture, Iran, 1st millennium B.C.
Terracotta.
Provenance: private collection, Windsor, Connecticut (United States). Previously in the collection of Mr. Lewis, New York. Acquired from Ariadne Galleries Inc., New York, on May 31, 1991. A copy of the purchase invoice is on file.
In good condition.
Measurements: 18 cm high; 26 cm long.

This vessel is a striking example of zoomorphic pottery associated with the Amlash culture, which flourished in the mountainous regions of northern Iran during the 1st millennium B.C. Its globular body, designed to hold liquids, is combined with a long spout shaped like the head and neck of a quadruped, whose features are defined using synthetic techniques: applied eyes, modeled ears, and an elongated snout.

The integration of functional form and animal representation is one of the most characteristic features of these works. The balance between the compact volume of the vessel, the cylindrical neck, and the pronounced horizontal projection of the spout gives the piece a remarkable sculptural presence. The handles positioned on the shoulders would have facilitated handling and reinforce the structural symmetry of the whole.