Western Asiatic Terracotta Dish
A fine Near Eastern / Western Asiatic terracotta dish. The dish is circular in shape with a raised, everted lip, and a flat circular base. The interior of the dish is adorned with a continuous band of dark pigment along the rim. The base of the interior features some dark pigment which would have created a decorative design.
Earthy encrustations to the surface and signs of wear as consistent with its age, such as pitting and chips to the inside of the rim and base.
Ancient Western Asiatic artistic production is characterised by finely potted, high fired terracotta vessels, usually enriched by dark pigmented geometric or zoomorphic decorations. Such vessels would have been produced to store food, but also as burial goods to be placed with the deceased in the tomb.
Although the first examples of Near Eastern pottery production display simple shapes and stylised decorative motifs, terracotta wares evolved, embracing aesthetics driven by all the cultures which entered into contact with the Near East.
Period: Circa 1st millennium BC
Measurements (circa): Diameter 24.6 cm × Height 3.7 cm
Provenance: Ex London Collection, formed between 1990–present
Condition: Good
(LAPADA Member)
(Antiquities Dealers Association – ADA)
(British Numismatic Trade Association – BNTA)