painted vase fragment
Iran, 4th Millennium B.C.,
White ground terra-cotta, Dimensions: 6 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches.

This fragment belongs to an important class of objects from the dawn of civilization, vases in various forms that were painted with figures of animals framed by geometric patterns. Simple and stylized as the animal in this fragment is, it radiates vitality, and is even humorous with its upturned tail. While it is hard to identify what animal is represented here given the extreme simplicity of the rendering, it most resembles a cat with the long tail.