Description:

Ancient Central Asia, Bactria, ca. early 2nd millennium BCE. An intriguing cosmetics vessel, hand-built from grayware pottery, depicting an abstract horse-like creature standing atop a quartet of rod-shaped legs. The animal presents with a slender body, a petite tail drooping from the posterior, a panel-shaped chest, and a minimalist head with a beak-shaped snout and a pair of protruding eyes. Atop its back is a tall, rectangular vessel with a corseted neck and a flared rim, and the narrow mouth perhaps held a slender applicator at one time. Intricately incised linear motifs decorate each of the vessel's lateral walls, and dozens of ringlets embellish the body and chest of the horse. Size: 3.9" L x 1.875" W x 7.4" H (9.9 cm x 4.8 cm x 18.8 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: private Corpus Christi, Texas, USA estate collection, acquired 1960s to 1970s

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.

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#165223

  • Condition: Possible repairs to each leg but are very well done and nearly invisible if present. Softening to some incised details and light encrustations across most surfaces. TL drill holes beneath front right leg and behind upper rim.

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July 1, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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