Spouted pitcher

Unknown

ca. 1050–800 BCE · Ceramic · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This pitcher has a globular body, a ring base and a rounded rim. A pointed spout emerges from the body of the pitcher at an angle before extending horizontally. The back of the spout is connected to the vessel by a bridge whose jointed shaped parallels that of the spout itself. Below the spout is a pointed projection. The combination of the pointed spout and projection below may suggest the form of a bird with a long beak and a crop in its neck. The pitcher is made of burnished grey clay. The body was likely made in two separate pieces on a wheel, with the spout added later. This pitcher was excavated from a grave at Dinkha Tepe in northwestern Iran. During the Iron Age Dinkha Tepe was a small settlement, probably ruled by Hasanlu, a major site fifteen miles to the east. Presumably this pitcher was used to pour a liquid containing dregs, such as wine, since the round body and spout would prevent the dregs from ending up in the cup. Possibly it was used in a funerary banquet or ritual before it was placed in the grave. Two cups were also found in the grave.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1050–800 BCE

Medium

Ceramic

Culture

Iran

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1966