Tray with Bird Heads
1st millennium B.C.E
1 of 3
Object Label
Ancient Iranian Ceramics
These ceramics demonstrate ancient Iranian artists’ interest in creating containers and other ritual instruments in the shape of mammals or birds. This tradition was of incredible duration, stretching back to about 3000 B.C.E. of the Neolithic period and lasting as late as the sixth century C.E. These shapes relate Iranian art to the customs of neighboring regions of Mesopotamia, Greece, and Central Asia where animal art also played an integral role.
These ceramics demonstrate ancient Iranian artists’ interest in creating containers and other ritual instruments in the shape of mammals or birds. This tradition was of incredible duration, stretching back to about 3000 B.C.E. of the Neolithic period and lasting as late as the sixth century C.E. These shapes relate Iranian art to the customs of neighboring regions of Mesopotamia, Greece, and Central Asia where animal art also played an integral role.
Caption
Tray with Bird Heads, 1st millennium B.C.E. Clay, 4 7/16 x 11 5/16 x 6 1/8 in. (11.3 x 28.8 x 15.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, NYC, in memory of James F. Romano, 2015.65.24. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Frequent Art Questions
Can you tell me how this one was made?
This was made by joining slabs of clay together. The slabs would have first been shaped flat, in order to more easily sculpt the pointed top edge and the decorative dots along the sides. After the rectangles were joined into the basic tray shape, the bird finials were added.Was this tray with bird heads decorative or did it function as something else?
It was largely decorative. It may have held something ceremonial in a temple setting, but it wouldn't really be categorized as a "functional" object.
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