The pictured vessel is a masterful example of the celebrated Cheshmeh Ali ware tradition, dating to the Transitional Chalcolithic period, approximately 5200-4800 BC.

Its surface displays a rich orange-red hue, meticulously smoothed and burnished to a soft sheen. The elegant decoration is executed in a deep black pigment, with all motifs rendered in fine, confident lines.

The vessel’s form and decorative scheme showcase the profound influence of older traditions in basketry and woodworking. This is evident in the bands of precise, hatched lines that frame the central scene, a pattern that closely resembles the work of a basket weaver. While the majority of Cheshmeh Ali pottery is adorned with geometric designs like stripes, chevrons, and dots, this piece features a far less common and more narrative motif. The central register presents a striking procession of long-legged, long-necked birds, likely herons or storks, parading in a horizontal band. This depiction is a brilliant example of the potter’s skill, capturing the essence of the local fauna with a few minimal, yet highly naturalistic, strokes. Such animal imagery—which also includes goats, ibex, and gazelles—forms an important, though rare, part of the ceramic tradition, with representations of humans being exceedingly scarce.

Renowned for its distinctive handmade construction, Cheshmeh Ali ware’s decorative schemes are typically painted in black pigment on a still-damp surface, which can create slightly blurred edges. The presence of such intricate animal figures on this large bowl, as opposed to the common geometric or floral patterns, makes it a notably rare and important specimen within the tradition.

Ismailabad or Mushelan Tappeh is located south of the Tehran-Qazvin road and It was first excavated by archaeologist Ali Hakemi between 1958 and 1961.

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