Jar with pierced handles for suspension
Unknown Artist
ca. 3300–3100 BCE
Medium
Ceramic
Dimensions
4.02 x 4.49 in. (10.21 x 11.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Vessels
Period
Late Uruk
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Robert Haber family, 1993
Accession Number
1993.468.5
Art Historical Context
This delicate ceramic jar, dating to the Late Uruk period around 3300–3100 BCE, hails from ancient Mesopotamia in the Ancient Near East—modern-day Iraq. The Uruk culture represents one of humanity's earliest urban civilizations, with burgeoning cities, complex societies, and innovations in craft that laid the groundwork for Sumerian achievements. Standing just over 4 inches tall, this vessel exemplifies the practical artistry of the time, when pottery was essential for daily life, storage, and ritual purposes. Crafted from ceramic, the jar features pierced handles designed for suspension, lik...