A BACTRIAN COPPER ALLOY FIGURAL COSMETIC VESSEL

CIRCA LATE 3RD-EARLY 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.

Details

A BACTRIAN COPPER ALLOY FIGURAL COSMETIC VESSEL
CIRCA LATE 3RD-EARLY 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
In the form of a camel, striding forward with its right legs advanced, an opening in the forward hump serving as the vessel mouth, the head with almond-shaped eyes, a wide mouth with pronounced lips, circular nostrils and rounded ears, genitalia indicated, details of the fur incised along the neck, the back of the head, the tops of the humps and bulging tufts at the tops of the forelegs
4¾ in. (12 cm.) long

Provenance

English Private Collection, since 1978.

Lot Essay

The Bactrian camel is distinguished by two humps and is predominately found in Central Asia. The camel was part of the artistic repertory of western Central Asia and was used for small animal figurines and theriomorphic containers for cosmetics. For a related example see no. 11 in Pittman, Art of the Bronze Age: Southeastern Iran, Western Central Asia, and the Indus Valley.

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