Pre-Islamic Iron Persian Bowl

Hi all,

I have had this antique Persian Iron bowl for a while now and finally decided it is time to find out more about it.

What I believe:
- It is made from iron (appears to be early iron works)
- It would be pre-Islamic time (before 7th century), this mainly because of the absence of arabic text, the presence of primitive animal drawings, shape of the feet (animal shaped), and overall look and feel
- I was told by my grandmother, who passed this on to me, that this would have been used to keep ink to paint faces (makeup).

The dimensions are as follows: Diameter 15cm, Hight 6cm, Depth 2cm

Can anyone help with the exact period? Could this date from the Elamite period?

It probably needs some cleaning up but I’m sure most would advise not to touch it; even though I am sure some fine steel wool and oil would do wonders!

I look forward to your replies!

Thank you in advance.
Sam

Entire bowl II by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Top by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Bowl from top by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Entire bowl by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Left side details by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Right side details by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Right side inside details by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Below Bowl by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

Side II by Sam Hills posted Dec 30, 2020 at 8:01 PM

 

Simple test for iron - does it attract a magnet?

 

I just tried, it does not. Could it be copper?

 

Could be bronze. What else did you learn from your grandmother? How did she acquire it? Why did she believe it was for cosmetics?

 

I can't believe it not butter - no not butter, IRON.

Sure looks like it ...what kind of magnet did you use? I think a strong one would stick to it.

Plasticized fridge magnet? Maybe not.

 

The very odd feet make me wonder if this piece isn't meant to sit on top of another vessel or on a frame.

 

The feet are animal shaped, maybe lions or horses.. That is why I suspect it to be Elamite period.

Here is an example of an Elamite bowl, currently exposed at the Louvre.

The follwowing bowls are all Elamite period and have animal forms on them too.

 

Fortunately my grandmother is still alive, so I asked her for more details today.

My grandmother is Iranian. She studied arts and culture in Berlin. When she returned to Theran, she acquired this piece from a local Antique dealer in 1961. She remebers this jewish man at the time who was heavily involved in archeological finds and excavations and would take the time to show her his latest finds as she was very interested. The man told her this piece was many thousands of years old and was found at an excavation site along with other objects. He highlighted the animal shaped feet of the bowl (said they were lions) and told her this was an indicator for the period. The cosmetic bowl theory was also mentioned by this man, « they would have had to heat up the product (ink, oil..?) placed in this bowl and then would apply it with some kind of wooden object to face. He said the Egyptians did a similar thing...

My grandmother also acquired from this same dealer some Amlash excavated pottery around that time (Amlash culture). These objects have been authenticated (maybe I will share them in a later post).

I look forward to your comments.
Sam

 

I tried with a fridge magnet.. will try again with a larger one.

 

If you were in the UK, I'd be suggesting emailing the British Musuem.

 

Ownedbybear, thank your for the suggestion. I just sent an email to the British Museum’s Middle East department. Let’s see what they have to say.

Happy New Year!
Sam

 

Worth a go, it'll be interesting to see what they say.

 

That was my thinking about the feet, that this piece was designed to sit over some type of brazier.

A culture that could make this could do better with animal feet.

https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/three-footed-bowl-ibex



@Hollyblue Can you say anything about how the dish was formed or the decoration applied?

 

The feet are quite small on my object and of different material (metal vs bitumen). I agree it isn’t clear if the shape has a functional or visual purpose..

Here is a close-up:

Feet by Sam Hills posted Dec 31, 2020 at 5:58 PM

Thank you for your feedback!
Sam

 

It looks like the designs were chased.The corrosion makes it hard to see what the patterns are,the top rim looks like a basket weave or knot pattern.

 

Hollyblue, thank you. Does that tell us anything about the period?

 

No help here, just wanted to say this is a fascinating thread

 

Still say it's Iron

 

Looks like a metal rod was soldered/braised there.