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Stone cult vessel,from Mesopotamia, 3400-3200 BCE. This was the time when large cities were developing in southern Mesopotamia. The largest known settlement was Uruk (modern Warka). In its center were monumental temple buildings with sculptures for ritual use, or, if smaller, left as votive objects. Lines of animals are commonly depicted attacking domesicated animals. This is a standard theme in Mesopotamic art, a symbolic representation of the struggle between chaotic savagry and divine order. ANE, 118361
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Stone cult vessel,from Mesopotamia, 3400-3200 BCE. This was the time when large...

Clay plaque showing a banqueter, from Uruk (Warka), 1st CE. The plaque shows a reclining man in Parthian dress of belted tunic and baggy trousers. He holds a drinking cup in one hand. The figure was made by pressing clay into a simple mould. ANE 91786
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Clay plaque showing a banqueter, from Uruk (Warka), 1st CE. The plaque shows a...

Silver fluted tumbler from Ur, southern Mesopotamia, early dynastic period,2.600-2.400 BCE. The tumbler comes from the Royal graves at Ur. Metal was expensive in Mesopotamia where there are no metal deposits. Several vessels like this one were found at Ur, often made from gold. Silver was widely used but unlike gold the metal corrodes and does not survive. ANE, 122258
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Silver fluted tumbler from Ur, southern Mesopotamia, early dynastic period,2.60...

Stone vessel from Ur,Mesopotamian,southern Iraq. Dis- covered in the grave of Queen Pu-abi in the cemetery at Ur, 2600-2400 BCE. It was first roughly chipped to shape, then hollowed out using a bow-drill and finally the exterior was finely cut and polished. ANE 121717
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Stone vessel from Ur,Mesopotamian,southern Iraq. Dis- covered in the grave of Qu...

Gold cup from Ur,Mesopotamia,southern Iraq, 2.600 - 2.400 BCE. Found on the floor of the pit of the Queen's grave alongside the sacrificial victims. There are no gold deposits in Mesopotamia, and the metal would probably have come from Iran or Anatolia. Manufactured in Mesopotamia. ANE 121346
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Gold cup from Ur,Mesopotamia,southern Iraq, 2.600 - 2.400 BCE. Found on the floo...

The silver object was discovered in the cemetery at Ur, early Dynastic period, 2.600-2.400 BCE. In shape it resembles shell vessels also found in the Royal graves. Although often described as "lamps" both the conch shells and their metal imitations were probably used for pouring, perhaps in temple rituals. ANE 120696
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The silver object was discovered in the cemetery at Ur, early Dynastic period, 2...

Juglet from the Middle Euphrates region, Syria, Amorite, 2400-2000 BCE. The juglet, with its applied figurine, is pierced at the base and may have been a strainer or a sprinkler. ANE 138756
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Juglet from the Middle Euphrates region, Syria, Amorite, 2400-2000 BCE. The jug...

The Sargon Vase from Nimrud, northern Iraq. Neo-Assyrian, 8th century BCE. A cuneiform inscription on it reads:"Palace of Sargon King of Assyria". An engraved lion occurs often with inscriptions of Sargon II (722-705 BCE) and is probably an official mark that the article derives from or belongs to Sargon's palace or treasury. ANE, 90952
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The Sargon Vase from Nimrud, northern Iraq. Neo-Assyrian, 8th century BCE. A cu...

Stone bowl from Khafajeh, Iraq, Early Dynastic period, c2600-c2400 BC. The carving on this vessel is particularly fine. The design is probably linked to Iranian mythology. A man in a net skirt kneels on two humped-backed bulls, or zebus, standing back to back, and grasps streams watering vegetation and a palm tree; above are two undulating lines, a crescent moon and a rosette sun. A similar figure with a rosette grasps two snakes and stands between two felines lying back to back. A lion and eagle attack a bull with a small animal below. The zebus are not native to Mesopotamia, and their presence here indicates a connection with the civilization which was developing at this time along the Indus Valley in Pakistan and north-west India. This vessel was found in Mesopotamia on a major trade route though the mountains on to the Iranian plateau. ANE, 128887
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Stone bowl from Khafajeh, Iraq, Early Dynastic period, c2600-c2400 BC. The carvi...

Footed basin, decorated with leaves and lotus flowers, Ottoman, c1545-c1550. This large basin may have been used for washing the feet of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. An inventory of the Ottoman treasury in 1505 makes mention of 'foot basins': this may either mean that they were indeed used for washing feet, or that the basins were mounted upon a circular foot, as here.The basin is an example of the 'Damascus' style of Iznik pottery. The outside of the broad bowl is painted in a lively pattern of large cobalt blue and turquoise lotus-flowers, enclosed by slender blue stems and long feathery green leaves. A smaller version of the same design appears around the foot, bordered by narrow bands of cable pattern. Inside the basin is a radial arrangement of medallions containing cloud scrolls, each medallion surrounded by tall stalks of bluebells. OA, G 1983.67
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Footed basin, decorated with leaves and lotus flowers, Ottoman, c1545-c1550. Thi...

Dancer.Detail of a black earthenware vessel with stamp decoration from Sopron,Hungary. Overall height: 41,5 cm See also 07-01-03/15,16;05-01-06/54,55
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Dancer.Detail of a black earthenware vessel with stamp decoration fr...

Woman with lyre.Detail of a black earthenware vessel with stamp decoration from Sopron,Hungary. Overall height: 41,5 cm See also 07-01-03/15,16;05-01-06/53,55.
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Woman with lyre.Detail of a black earthenware vessel with stamp decoration fr...