Description:

Ancient Near East, Western Caspian Sea region, Caucasus, ca. mid-1st millennium BCE. A gorgeous vessel used for containing kohl cosmetic material, hand-carved from steatite of a jet-black hue. The vessel is shaped in the form of an ibex that stands upon a quartet of attenuated legs, with a corseted neck that flares into a conical head, a bifurcated horn that doubles as the handle, and a tall cylindrical neck projecting from atop the back. The upper cylinder rim bears a petite groove meant for securing a lid to mitigate any spillage of the cosmetic material contained within. The exterior surfaces bear ample age-commensurate encrustations, though the meticulously polished and smoothed surfaces can still be readily felt. The ibex is an ancient animal that is symbolically linked to fertility and virility, so the kohl procured from this vessel may have been used in fertility ceremonies or rituals. Size: 3" L x 6.125" H (7.6 cm x 15.6 cm).

Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, New York, USA

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#149891

  • Condition: Original lid missing. Minor abrasions to body, horns, and cylindrical neck, with extensive encrustations, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits as well as incredibly smooth surfaces throughout.

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September 26, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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