Bidspirit auction | Ban Chiang Vase, Thailand, 15th-5th

Ban Chiang Vase, Thailand, 15th-5th century BC. - Modeled and incised terracotta. Measures 37 x 27 cm. Wide-mouthed vessel with a slightly everted neck, ovoid body, and ring-shaped foot, decorated with complex geometric motifs engraved with concentric lines, zigzags, and chevron bands arranged in horizontal registers. The surface displays brownish-gray tones with an archaeological patina and traces of uneven firing that accentuate its authenticity. The ornamentation, executed with repetitive and rhythmic strokes, reflects the characteristic visual language of the Neolithic Ban Chiang culture. The formal simplicity of the vessel contrasts with the graphic richness of its incised decoration, conceived for both ritual and utilitarian purposes. The piece constitutes a remarkable testament to the earliest ceramic traditions of Southeast Asia, where geometric abstraction and artisanal sensitivity reached a high level of technical refinement. 37 x 27 cm.