A finely moulded glossy reddish-orange Amlash pitcher of the early Iron Age, with a globular body narrowing into a funnel mouth. Handle to one side extending from just below the rim to the top of the body.

Early Iron Age: Circa 10th-9th century BC.

The rim a little chipped and uneven otherwise complete, with earthy surface accretions.

Height 19 cms (7.5 ins)

(The term ‘Amlash Culture’, has generally been used to designate material cultures excavated at Gilan, an archaeological type site (a site that is considered the model of a particular archaeological culture) on the southern shore of the Caspian sea, and refers to a group of Iron Age pottery and metal executions with a strong visual character. Most of the Amlash pottery vessels are believed to have stylistically and typologically been inspired by bronze wares of the same period. Despite its proximity to the large Mesopotamian cultures, the geographical barrier of the high Zagros and Elburz Mountains kept it relatively isolated and a unique ceramic tradition developed there).