Luristan beak-spouted jug with zoomorphic handle

Culture: Iran/Luristan

Period: 800-600 B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 12.5 cm high; 20.4 cm long

Price: 1 400 Euro

Ref: 6575

Provenance: Austrian private collection Prof. Josef Mairitsch (1938-1994) with inventory number 24A. Acquired between 1960 and the early 1980s. Thence in the family estate. With an old collection note and copy of the inventory list.

Condition: A very minor chip on the edge of the pouring spout, otherwise in very good condition.

Description: Cream-colored northwest Iranian beak-spouted jug with red painting and zoomorphic details. The biconical vessel stands on a flat base and has the shape of a stylized bird. The long open spout is designed as a bird's head with eyes and lines. At the top, a bridge decorated with 15 applied buttons as the animal's hood connects the spout with the edge of the vessel. The bulge at the base of the neck is typical of the muscles of birds with long beaks such as the cormorant or the darter. On the back, the handle represents the tail, and its execution in the form of an animal head (snake?) gives the vase composition a special charm. The body of the vessel is decorated on the shoulder with the "hatched kites" typical of Luristan ceramics, which may have been inspired by woven textiles. The neck is concave, the large filling hole has an outward edge. Compare the shape and painting of the beak-spouted jugs in the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco with the object numbers B60P2129 and B60P2130.