Iran, Luristan / c. 800–700 BCE
Three-Part Pitcher
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Three-Part Pitcher as ceramic (Iran, Luristan · c. 800–700 BCE).
The ram’s head was created separately before being attached to the spout.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as earthenware, unglazed slip.
The museum's collection notes: This unusual tripartite pitcher is made of three jugs joined together, a twisted handle, and a ram’s head atop a spout. Four feet connect to the pitchers, adding stability and an animal-like form. Ibexes, diamonds, and crosses, all painted in red slip, decorate the clay surface. This work is likely Baba Jan III ware from the Iron Age site Baba Jan in northwestern Iran. The pitcher is functional but may have served a ritual purpose.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtThree-Part PitcherOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.