Cup

Art Historical Context

This delicate ceramic cup, hailing from ancient Iran during the Middle Bronze (ca. 19th–16th century BCE offers a glimpse into the daily life of one of the Near East's early urban cultures. Standing a modest 3.07 inches (7.8 cm) tall, it exemplifies the practical yet skillfully crafted vessels used for drinking or pouring in households and possibly rituals. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1966, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art where it stands as a testament to the region's burgeoning pottery traditions. Ceramics like this were fired in kilns to create durable, everyday wares, reflecting technological advances in the Middle Bronze Age when Iranian societies, influenced by trade routes connecting Mesopotamia and Central Asia, developed sophisticated clay-working techniques. Though the artist remains unknown, the cup's survival over millennia underscores the resilience of these objects, which often served as both utilitarian tools and cultural markers. For museum visitors, this unassuming vessel invites wonder at the ingenuity of ancient artisans—transforming humble clay into an enduring artifact that bridges 4,000 years of human history.