Beschreibung:

AN IMPORTANT LARGE CYPRIOT RELIEF-DECORATED RED POLISHED WARE BOWL EARLY BRONZE AGE, CIRCA 2000-1900 B.C. The deep bowl with flattened bottom, a heavy vertical handle dividing into two before joining the rim of the vessel, opposite are twin vertical spouts with everted rims (originally connected to one another and to the rim by short bars, now missing), a scenic composition in high relief arranged around the shoulder of the vessel as follows (clockwise from spouts): Side A: i) a seated figure in relaxed pose leaning up against the side of one of the spouts, its arms held over its lap and clasping an object in its hands, probably food, ii) a horizontal ledge bearing three small conical lumps (probably loaves of bread), a stylized figure standing in front of the left-hand cone, iii) another horizontal ledge with three stylized human figures bent over it busily working, a small lump placed on the ledge in front of each figure, the impression being that they are kneading dough into shape to make loaves, iv) a single figure standing in front of an oven, apparently reaching out towards the entrance of the oven as if to place an object in it or remove an object from it, on the left side of the oven is a basin, v) a single human figure working at some unidentifiable task, vi) three flat, circular discs, shown in relief, arranged in a horizontal row and giving the impression that the figure working below them has made three flat loaves and placed them ready for baking, vii) a standing figure holding a large pestle, grinding it down into a basin-shaped mortar, the figure depicted in the act of grinding corn to make flour for bread Side B: viii) a vertical pipe running down into a trough which in turn runs into a bowl, a human male figure stands to the left of the bowl with his hands resting on its rim, ix) a solitary male figure standing on his own, x) a large circular ridge, inside which are fifteen conical lumps, similar in shape to the pyramid loaves on side A of the vessel, in the bottom left-hand part of the circular ridge is an aperture representing some kind of opening to the space inside the circle, to the left of this opening is another male figure, xi) an antlered deer facing to the left, rendered in relief lines, followed by a small quadruped animal (possibly a dog in pursuit or a fawn following the deer), xii) a second, large circular ridge containing ten conical lumps, the circle of the ridge slightly smaller, a male figure standing to the right, the opening of the the circle faces towards the bottom right, xiii) a single round, flat disc high up near the rim of the vessel, looking like an isolated flat loaf similar to the three shown on side A, xiv) a long vertical 'stick' rendered in relief with seven small hollows down its length and a larger circular hollow at its swollen lower end, the top with what appears to be a flat, fan-shaped handle, repaired with restoration 15 1/8 in. (38.5 cm.) high to rim; 15 in. (38.1 cm.) rim diam.