This large, impressive terracotta vessel
features
a wide, rounded body with a tall neck
that bows
inwards slightly above the shoulders
before
flaring outwards at the top. Certainly,
the most
distinctive feature of this vessel is
the pair of
handles that connect the shoulders with
the
middle of the the neck. The handles are
topped
by inverted crescents that rise from the
top of
the handle to just below the lip of the
vessel that
appear to be stylized bull heads. The
handles
feature turquoise glazed highlights,
These
gorgeous highlights add a bit of color
to the
vessel, made that much more splendid by
the
monochrome decoration of the work. The
slip-
painted embellishments of abstracted
designs
decorate the neck and shoulders of the
exterior,
as well as the interior lip. The
brilliant blue glaze
hints at an Iranian influence, where
such glazed-
vessels were quite popular. This
striking vessel
would have decorated the dinner table of
an elite
member of early Afghan Islamic society.
Today,
the beauty of this ancient world is as
resplendent
as ever and reminds us of the rich
cultural and
artistic heritage of Afghanistan, the
crossways of
cultures.
- (PF.6116)
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