Lot 40
Ancient Near East, Western Anatolia, Chalcolithic period, ca. late 6th to 5th millennium BCE. A giant terracotta jar with four vertical loop handles evenly-spaced around the center of the body, a wide, rounded body, and a large, flared neck with rolled rim. Hand-painted dark red decorations form a dense pattern of cross-hatches, diamonds, triangles, and what look like pine branches or palmate motifs all over the body. The interior of the rim has repeated motifs of the same palmate style. This massive jar may have been used for food storage, but more likely served as an urn. Burial practices from the Chalcolithic are varied, but we know of cremation burials in urns from archaeological sites in this region. Often cremated remains were placed in urns with gifts and offerings. Size: 18.5" W x 19.75" H (47 cm x 50.2 cm)
This style of pottery - a pale/cream-colored slip with red or dark paint in stylized, often geometric patterns, represents an artistic leap forward in decorated pottery. Lively, painted patterns were introduced in the Chalcolithic, and are often associated with the archaeological site of Hacilar, in modern day southwestern Turkey. Hacilar was a walled village occupied in different stages (rather than continuously) from ca. 7000 BCE until being abandoned sometime a few thousand years later. It survived as a mound that was shown by a local teacher to the British archaeologist James Mellaart, who excavated it alongside its more famous neighbor, Catalhoyuk, in the mid-20th century. Walls and floors in the small dwelling units within the village were plastered and painted with geometric patterns of red on cream similar to those found on their terracotta. Pottery was made in a workshop area dedicated to ceramic manufacturing, suggesting a specialized industry.
Provenance: Ex - prominent LA County collector who acquired these prior to 2000
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#121251
- Condition: Repaired from multiple pieces, with overpainting on lower body, rim, and one handle.
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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 |
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| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |