Description:

Ancient Central Asia, Bactria, ca. 2500 to 2250 BCE. A beautiful kohl cosmetic container cast from bronze via the lost wax (cire perdue) technique with a pair of stylized ibexes adorning the upper body. The vessel presents with a squat, flat base, a spherical body with two protruding ibex heads, and a cylindrical neck surmounted by a flared rim. Accompanying the jar is a lengthy stopper that doubles as an applicator topped with a grand bull head bearing a pair of curling horns. Fine layers of brown and green patina cover the entire vessel in color. Size (w/ stopper): 3.1" W x 5.2" H (7.9 cm x 13.2 cm)

Provenance: private California, USA collection, by descent, moved from Germany in 1997, originally collected in the 1970s in Hamburg, Germany

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#155939

  • Condition: One horn is repaired, and another has a small loss. Otherwise in very nice condition with a few tiny chips and nicks. The jar has a stopper that is also in fine condition. The stopper is contemporary though it is unclear if it is original to this vessel. This said, it does fit nicely inside it. Both jar and stopper have nice patinas and deposits.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

September 10, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000