Jar
Unknown Artist
ca. 2000–1600 BCE
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
7.24 in. (18.39 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Vessels
Culture & Period
Iran · Middle Bronze Age
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1943
Accession Number
43.89.16
Art Historical Context
This elegant ceramic jar, dating to the Middle Bronze Age (ca 2000–1600 BCE), hails from ancient Iran and exemplifies the sophisticated pottery traditions of the Ancient Near East. Standing just 7.24 inches (18.39 cm) tall, it to a class of everyday vessels that played a vital role in domestic life, likely used for storing grains, liquids, or oils in burgeoning urban settlements. Crafted by an unknown artisan, such jars reflect the era's advancements in ceramic technology, including firing techniques that produced durable, functional wares amid a period of cultural flourishing and trade across...