Zoomorphic vessel. Khurvin, Persia, Iron Age, 10th–9th centuries B.C.

Zoomorphic vessel. Khurvin, Persia, Iron Age, 10th–9th centuries B.C.
Terracotta.
Provenance: private collection, Windsor, Connecticut, United States; formerly the collection of Mr. Lewis, New York, 1991. Acquired from Ariadne Galleries Inc., New York, on May 31, 1991. A copy of the invoice is on file.
Thermoluminescence test attached.
Measurements: 19 cm high.

Important zoomorphic terracotta vessel from the Khurvin cultural sphere in ancient Persia, dating to the Iron Age. The piece features a slightly truncated conical cylindrical body, a grayish surface, and three zoomorphic elements applied to the upper part, including a central animal head—likely that of a ram or bovine—flanked by small modeled vessels or appendages.

The ceramic production of Khurvin, associated with northern Iran, is notable for its ritual forms and the presence of animal motifs, particularly those associated with strength, fertility, and the symbolic world of Iron Age Iranian communities. In this example, the frontal placement of the zoomorphic head gives the vessel an almost totemic presence, transforming a functional object into a piece with a clear ceremonial dimension.

The chromatic restraint of the gray terracotta, together with the incised decoration and applied volumes, reinforces the archaic character of the work. The piece retains a surface with wear, deposits, and marks characteristic of its archaeological age, while maintaining the strength of its original structure and the expressiveness of the zoomorphic elements.