This piece is a fine example of Bactrian craftsmanship from the Hellenistic period. It forms part of the long and rich tradition of stonework and inlay that flourished in this remote region of Western Asia as early as the Early Bronze Age.
The body, which has a flat, circular base but does not ensure the vessel is well balanced, is hemispherical in shape: it has been carved with great precision. The lid, with its domed profile, depicts the body of a bird in a simple, stylised manner: it features a central, triangular knob and a small side handle, which correspond respectively to the bird’s head and tail.
This small, beautiful object is composed of two elements: a parallelepiped that serves as a base for two statuettes of young bulls, whose bodies are merged together and placed head to toe. The animals are seated on the floor, their legs folded under their bodies. In spite of the stylization of the figurines, partly related to their miniature size, the artist skillfully rendered the proportions, the position and anatomy of the bulls. The delicate expression of their muzzle and their somewhat thick appearance certainly tend to imitate the naivety and clumsiness of a young animal.
This hemispherical vessel is provided, near the lip, with a horizontal, perfectly cylindrical spout. It is simply decorated with a frieze of zigzag pattern in relief. Despite its reduced size, this vessel is outstanding for its technical precision: all the details of the shape and decoration were carefully executed.
