Lot 70
Late Cypriot II Base Ring Bilbil - Perfume Jug
Late Cypriot II Base Ring Bilbil - Perfume Jug
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Greece, Late Bronze Age, Late Cypriot II, ca. 1550 to 1200 BCE. A slender Cypriot base ring bilbil vessel, its distinctive elongated neck rising to a flared rim, balanced above a globular body that rests on a narrow ring base. A single strap handle elegantly bridges the shoulder to the neck, completing the vessel's iconic silhouette. The reddish-brown clay bears traces of burnishing and surface accretions from long burial, while faint vertical streaks of white slip decoration emphasize the curvature of the body. Bilbils, sometimes referred to as "Base Ring ware jugs," are among the most recognizable ceramic types of Late Cypriot pottery. Their unusual form is thought to have been influenced by Near Eastern metal prototypes and may have been intended to mimic imported luxury goods. Often associated with the storage and transport of perfumed oils or aromatic unguents, bilbils are frequently discovered in tombs, where their contents likely carried both practical and symbolic value. Size: 6" L x 5.25" W x 11" H (15.2 cm x 13.3 cm x 27.9 cm)
These vessels testify to Cyprus's role as a vital hub of Late Bronze Age trade, circulating alongside Cypriot copper, ceramics, and other commodities across the eastern Mediterranean. Examples have been recovered from sites in Egypt and the Levant, underscoring their importance in international exchange and their contribution to the flourishing trade networks of the 2nd millennium BCE.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#197220
- Condition: Chips, nicks, and abrasions as shown, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact with liberal remaining decoration and rich encrustations throughout.
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