Terracotta
 
Indus Valley, 3000 - 1500 BC

Height: 13 ¾ in (35 cm)

Provenance: Private European Collection

A large burial urn with a ledged rim for holding the lid, with beige and red slip painted with brown motifs.  Decorated with concentric circles, some containing hatching, a large main section contains images of tethered bulls interspersed with foliate designs and the upper section, nearer the neck, contains two rows of Blackbuck antelopes. The bulls have elongated bodies, a hump on the back, long, thin, curved horns and large circular eyes.
 
The people of the Indus Valley Civilization were prolific in the production of terracotta pots, animals and figures and the importance of the bull to this culture can be seen in the abundant use of this motif.
 
Similar examples of pottery from this period are published in J. M. Kenoyer, Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, Oxford, pp. 231 – 239, figs. 176 – 205.