Short-necked spherical jar

This large jar belongs to a long tradition of monochrome painted pottery that flourished in western Iran from about 2500 BCE. The jar's decoration is typical of wares excavated at the site Tepe (Giyan—intricate geometric motifs, painted in brown on a buff-colored ground, are organized into horizontal panels concentrated on the upper part of the jar just beneath the flaring rim. Stylized birds are often seen on these wares, and the nestled birds here with round heads, single-dot eyes and curved beaks enhance the appeal of the jar. Although its exact function has yet to be determined, this jar, like most ancient Persian ceramics, would have been created to store, pour, or transport liquids and foods in a daily or ritual context.