There are many examples of Babylonian terra cotta, but pieces of this quality are rare, revealing the beauty of this ancient region’s early artisans. This vessel takes the form of a horse, its head gracefully bent across its left side in an intimate movement. The craftsman’s details beautifully highlight the horse’s strong eyes, patterned body, and rippled mane.
This piece dates from 800 B.C.E. – 600 B.C.E., measures 9.5 cm tall, and is in good condition. Horses were used for both work and sport throughout the Babylonian kingdoms, so the vessel would have been quite identifiable across the region.
