Type of object: Embroidery

Accession number: 2006.1265 Inventory number: Misc. 76

Object: Dress inset

Material/technique: Silk, cotton, mirrors / hand-embroidered

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Rows of small mirrors encircled in rondelles of green, red, blue and yellow silk, separated by zigzag borders, on black cotton background fabric.

Measurements: Inset: L. 40 cm, W. 34 cm / cuffs: L. 40 cm, W. 7 cm

Condition: As new

Provenance: Qala-ye Binihesar women’s prison, Kabul, 1948

Donated by: Abdul Qadir and Khadija Qadeeri, Kabul/Aarau, Switzerland, 2001

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Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1266 Inventory number: Misc. 77

Object: Animal head

Material/technique: Limestone / hand-carved

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / ca. 250 BC

Brief description: Yellowish-ochre limestone gargoyle in form of mastiff’s head with docked ears. The right chap and parts of the eyes show traces of red. Finely incised whiskers on both sides of the muzzle. Possibly inspired by Peritas, the historic mastiff of Alexander the Great. Found at fountain below rampart on Oxus River. From Ai Khanum.

Measurements: L. 23 cm W. 11 cm H. 13.5 cm Weight 2650 g

Condition: As originally excavated, small part of right ear missing

References: Mém. DAFA, Tome XXIX (1986), pp.32-38, ill. 91/92: La tête de molosse. Leriche, P. and J. Thoraval: La fontaine du rempart de l’Oxus à Ai Khanoum. In: Syria 56/1-2 (1977) pp.171-205; Fig. 19-21: Molosse, pp. 198-201

Provenance: Excavated by DAFA at Ai Khanoum, Takhar, Afghanistan, 1960s

Donated by: John Eskenazi Ltd., at request of Carla Grissmann, London, 2002

Photograph:

Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1267 Inventory number: Misc. 78

Object: Plaque

Material/technique: Ivory / hand-carved

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / c. 1^st C.

Brief description: Sculpted open-work plaque in high relief, a bejewelled woman under an arched torana stands alone at left of latticed separation and fragment of doorway surmounted by an Indian arch, two further bejewelled women at right, one holding a vessel, the other a branch from an ashoka tree. From Begram.

Measurements: H. 15.5 cm W. 12.8 cm Weight 123 g

Condition: Recently restored and backed with wax. During restoration the heads were interchanged by error.

References: Mèm. DAFA, Tome XI (1954), p.179: No.34 i.6 / ibid. Vol. de pl.: Fig. 64

Provenance: Of Indian origin, excavated by DAFA at Begram, Kapisa, in 1937

Donated by: John Eskenazi, Ltd, at request of Carla Grissmann, London

Photograph:

Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1268 Inventory number: Misc. 79

Object: Plaque

Material/technique: Ivory / hand-carved

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / c. 1^st C.

Brief description: Sculpted open-work ivory plaque in high relief. A bejewelled woman stands in a doorway under an Indian arch, on her left wrist at shoulder height perches a parrot, his head turned towards the woman’s face. From Begram.

Measurements: H. 13.5 cm W. 10 cm Weight 75 g

Condition: Recently restored and backed with wax

References: Mèm. DAFA, Tome XI (1954), p. 214: No.191 z / ibid. Vol. de pl.: Fig.84

Provenance: Of Indian origin, excavated by DAFA at Begram, 1937

Donated by: John Eskenazi Ltd., at request of Carla Grissmann, London, 2002.

Photograph:

Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1269 Inventory number: Misc. 80

Object: Buddha figure

Material/technique: Schist / hand-carved

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / c. 4^th C.

Brief description: Fragment of a frieze in high relief. Seated Buddha on lotus blossom in teaching position, flanked by two standing Bodhisattvas.

Measurements: H. 26.5 cm W. 25 cm Weight 4675 g (incl. metal support)

Condition: Fragment, minor damage

Provenance: Eastern Afghanistan

Donated by: Anonymous donor, Hong Kong, 2001

Photograph:

Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1270 Inventory number: Misc. 81

Object: Bodhisattva figure

Material/technique: Schist / hand-carved

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / c. 4^th C.

Brief description: Fragment of frieze in high relief, seated Bodhisattva with halo, ornate turban, moustache and jewelry.

Measurements: H. 30 cm W. 17 cm Weight 3810 g

Condition: Fragment, damaged

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Anonymous donor, Hong Kong, 2001

Photograph:

Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1271 Inventory number: Misc. 82

Object: Animal figure

Material/technique: Metal / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / c. 250 BC

Brief description: Bronze toad. From Ai Khanum.

Measurements: L. 7.5 cm W. 5.8 cm H. 2.4 cm Weight 115 g

Condition: Green patina, right hind leg missing, hole in base

Provenance: Illegal excavation at Ai Khanoum, Takhar

Donated by: Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, Panjsher Valley, Afghanistan, 1999

Photograph:

Type of object: Sculpture

Accession number: 2006.1272 Inventory number: Misc. 83

Object: Human figure

Material/technique: Stucco / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan, Hadda / c. 5^th C.

Brief description: Small stucco head with wavy hair and crown.

Measurements: H. 10.5 cm W. 6.5 cm Weight 425 g

Condition: Fragment, worn

References: Barthoux, J.-J. (1930): Les fouilles de Hadda III

Provenance: Bought in Kabul in 1960s.

Donated by: Mrs. Bonnie James, USA, at request of Carla Grissmann, London, 2002

Photograph:

Type of object: Lighting

Accession number: 2006.1273 Inventory number: Misc. 84

Object: Lamp stand

Material/technique: Bronze / hand-cast

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 10^th-11^th C.

Brief description: Base of Ghaznavid tripod lamp stand with Kufic inscriptions incised around the rim and small medallions with birds and various animals on body. From Ghazni.

Measurements: Dia. 17 cm H. 9.5 cm Weight 845 g

Condition: Good

References: Melikian-Chirvani, A.S. (1982): Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, p. 53-53, similar object

Provenance: Bought in Kabul in1960s.

Donated by: Mrs. W. Le Tissier at request of Carla Grissmann, London, 2002

Photograph:

Type of object: Container

Accession number: 2006.1274 Inventory number: Misc. 85

Object: ?

Material/technique: ? / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / ?

Brief description: Unidentified spherical greenish object with various bands of incised geometric motifs around body. Bottom pointed to sit in stand (?).

Measurements: Dia. 11 cm H. 9 cm Weight 535 g

Condition: Dented, hole

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Mr . Malem Naim, Kabul, 2002

Photograph:

Type of object: Vessel

Accession number: 2006.1275 Inventory number: Misc. 86

Object: Jug

Material/technique: Ceramic / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 11^th C.

Brief description: Small bulbous jug with twisted handle and dark brown geometric decorations painted around body and neck. From Ghazni.

Measurements: Dia. 10 cm H. 18 cm Weight 540 g

Condition: Worn, rim chipped

Provenance: Bought in Kabul in 1970s.

Donated by: Mrs. Doris Sutter, USA, at request of Carla Grissmann, London, 2001

Photograph:

Type of object: Floor covering

Accession number: 2006.1276 Inventory number: Misc. 87

Object: Rug

Material/technique: Wool / hand-woven

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Small Turkoman prayer rug, in tones of madder and brown, row of three flattened guls bordered with various hook and horn motifs on madder field, outer border of ovals edged with hook design.

Measurements: L. 90 cm W. 65 cm

Condition: Badly worn, faded, sections missing at both end

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Mr. and Mrs. Häner, Bubendorf, Switzerland

Photograph:

Type of object: Textile

Accession number: 2006.1277 Inventory number: Misc. 88

Object: Band

Material/technique: Wool / hand-woven

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Very long woven band of varying widths of red, browns, beige and white stripes bordered by narrow decorative stripes of checkered brown and white.

Measurements: L. 542 cm W. 23 cm Weight 850 g

Condition: Good, faded

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Mrs. Ingrid Piper, Wolfensbüttel, Switzerland, 2001

Photograph:

Type of object: Accessory

Accession number: 2006.1278 Inventory number: Misc. 89

Object: Bag

Material/technique: Wool / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Stiff rectangular bag, one long piece folded over and sewn up the sides, braided brown and white wool cord attached to both sides of opening at green cloth reinforcements. Flat weave, embroidered in black, orange and three shades of red. Center field of triangular motifs surrounded by borders of vertical stripes and flattened diamonds. Yellow, black, maroon, and white tassels at lower corners.

Measurements: L. 35 cm W. 27 cm Weight 430 g

Condition: Good, soiled

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Not known

Photograph:

Type of object: Toy

Accession number: 2006.1279 Inventory number: Misc. 90

Object: Doll

Material/technique: Cotton, artificial silk / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Female doll in white trousers, long flowered dress and white gauze veil, under blue pleated chador.

Measurements: H. 32 cm W. 13 cm Weight 174 g

Condition: As new

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Not known

Photograph:

Type of object: Toy

Accession number: 2006.1280 Inventory number: Misc. 91

Object: Chador

Material/technique: Artificial silk / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Blue pleated chador for doll.

Measurements: H. 32 cm Weight 24 g

Condition: As new

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Not known

Photograph:

Type of object: Vessel

Accession number: 2006.1281 Inventory number: Misc. 92

Object: Cup

Material/technique: Ceramic / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Small cup with straight sides on flat base, handle. Blue glaze with cross-hatched floral and leaf motifs in black. From Istalif.

Measurements: Dia. 6 cm (rim) H. 7.5 cm Weight 57 g

Condition: Tiny chips in rim

Provenance: Istalif, Afghanistan

Donated by: Mrs. Madeleine Kühn-Comte, Basel, Switzerland, 2000

Photograph:

Type of object: Container

Accession number: 2006.1282 Inventory number: Misc. 93

Object: Pot

Material/technique: Metal, stone / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Round cylindrical silver alloy pot with fitted lid. Two rows of four vertical oval cabochon lapis stones, between stones various silver cut-out decorations applied to surface of pot, four variously shaped lapis stones on lid.

Measurements: Dia. 6 cm H. 10 cm Weight 65 g

Condition: Tarnished, corroded

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Mrs. Madeleine Kühn-Comte, Basel, Switzerland, 2000

Photograph:

Type of object: Amulet

Accession number: 2006.1283 Inventory number: Misc. 94

Object: Amulet

Material/technique: Metal, glass / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Long double silver alloy amulet with two broad chains with hollow embossed leaf-shaped pendants on both sides, holding at one end a flat rectangular embossed box with blue glass beads in corners and glass inset in center and leaf pendants at lower edge; at other end two hollow embossed cylinders with row of round glass insets and leaf pendants at lower edge.

Measurements: L. 77 cm (incl. boxes and pendants) W. 11 cm (cylinder) Weight 350 g

Condition: Worn, tarnished

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Not known

Photograph:

Type of object: Prayer beads

Accession number: 2006.1284 Inventory number: Misc. 95

Object: Prayer beads

Material/technique: Stone, silk / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / 20^th C.

Brief description: Long set of yellowish oval stones (sang-e-Shah Maqsud) on green silk thread.

Measurements: L. 34 cm Weight 30 g

Condition: Good

Provenance: Afghanistan

Donated by: Not known

Photograph:

Type of object: Seal

Accession number: 2006.1285 Inventory number: Misc. 96

Object: Seal

Material/technique: Metal, fabric / hand-crafted

Origin/Period: Afghanistan / ?

Brief description: Triangular bronze seal with image of monkey with longish snout and long tail, sitting on a square object, with staff in one hand. Loop on back. The seal was found wrapped in the fragment of soiled, torn blue fabric. From Bamiyan.

Measurements: L. 3 cm H. 3 cm Weight 27 g

Condition: Corroded / restored at the archaeological laboratory of Augusta Raurica

Provenance: Bamiyan, 2001

Donated by: An American journalist who bought the seal in Bamiyan from an Afghan who claimed it was found in the debris of one of the dynamited Buddhas

Photograph:

Type of object: Furniture