Ancient Armenian Urartian Bronze Libation Wine Bowl Urartu

The walls, hammered from a single sheet of bronze, are decorated with 49 vertical ribs in fine repoussé work, radiating from a central roundel. A slightly flaring rim chased with four rings and a continuous scalloped pattern above the ribs.

Libation bowls, of similar form and pattern, are known as phiale, were used across a wide geographical area - from ancient Greece, Caucasus, Asia Minor, Western Asia, and throughout the ancient Near East due to the trade connection in ancient times between various kingdoms of the ancient world.

These bowls for holding wine in ritual and ceremonial settings were made from bronze, silver, ceramic, and glass.

REFERENCES:

1. For a similar Urartian bowl found in the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Van, Van-Rusahinili, please see the link below:

https://www.livius.org/pictures/turkey/van/van-rusahinili-urartaean-bowl/

http://www.armenianheritage.org/

2. For the Urartian stone box from Erebuni Museum found in the Teishebaini, decorated with an identical pattern as on the present bowl, please see the link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebuni_Museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebuni_Museum#/media/File:StoneBox04.jpg

3. For a comparable Urartian bronze bowl in Erebuni Museum, please see the link below:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Erebuni%20Museum%20Lobby%202.%20Erebuni%20(Arin%20Berd)%20-%20Erebuni%20Museum&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CajzAUfoHKzwYXj7VftGx1XMsgIMCgIIABAAOgQIABAA&client=firefox-b-d&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=0CBsQuIIBahcKEwiItMinl-v2AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCA&biw=1635&bih=927#imgrc=U0uZV1YllpULrM

Rusahinili was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Van, located on the fortified rock “Toprakkale” east of the city of Van. This region was a part of the Urartu Kingdom from 860 B.C. – to 590 B.C. and part of the Kingdom of Armenia until 387 A.D.

Teishebaini (also Teshebani, modern Karmir Blur, refers more to the hill on which the fortress is located) was the capital of the Transcaucasian provinces of the ancient kingdom of Urartu. It is located near the modern city of Yerevan in Armenia.

The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references and a certificate of authenticity.

MEASUREMENTS:

Diameter: 17 cm (6.7 inches) Height: 5 cm (2 inches). WEIGHT: 245 grams.

CONDITION: Age and usage are showing; In remarkable condition, complete and intact except for 4 minor holes on the walls, the interior with dark green glossy patination. The surface of the exterior is covered by a dark green patina, with minerals and earth encrustation.

PROVENANCE: Ex Private Canadian collection.