Description:

Central Asia, Bactria, ca. 2500 to 2250 BCE. Skillfully carved from grey-green schist, this is an ornately carved, shallow, concave vessel, with a high relief scene of a nude male and female in the dish's interior. Polished stone vessels are common grave goods from this time period. Based on ancient evidence, we believe that the Bactrian concept of feminine beauty involved cosmetically enhanced dark eyes; a small dish like this probably held something used to create that effect. It may have once had an ivory lid. Given their impressive aesthetic qualities as well as the fact that archaeologists have typically found them in temple, grave, and palace sites, dishes like this one must have been regarded as precious objects themselves. Size: 3.8" W x 0.5" H (9.7 cm x 1.3 cm)

Provenance: private New York, USA collection

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#136286

  • Condition: Light surface encrustation, mainly in lower profile areas. Some scratching, chips, and nicks on surface commensurate with age.

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July 5, 2018 7:00 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 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000