For your consideration is an Afghan Bronze Cow-head Ewer, circa 11th - 12th century A.D. The Ghaznavid dynasty, found in the city of Lashkar Gah, once historically called Bost or Boost was once the site of a Ghaznavid palace and soldiers' bazaar near the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers in southeastern Afghanistan. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame, including Afghan artifacts. The monuments at Bost include remains from periods of ancient Iranian, Greco-Roman, and Indian domination, as well as the ruins of an imposing fortress, a soaring arch with baked-brick decoration in geometric patterns. The wealth of the medieval city was attested by Arab and Persian writers. Much of Afghanistan's art can be traced back through the invasions, occupations, empires, and dynasties that so frequently have ravaged the country. Afghanistan has been a crossroads of cultures that make up the colorfully robust and dynamic foundation of Afghan art. The National Museum of Afghanistan showcases Islamic artifacts from the Ghaznavid dynasty in the 12th Century A.D. The cow-head ewer has a teardrop opening at the top for filling the ewer while the spout is a diamond-shaped opening at the snout, engraved with a delicate row of arabesque and geometric circular motifs. Ewer has 2.5" x 2.5" fragment missing, original base is also missing. The colors seen on ancient bronzes are mostly a result of copper oxidizing to form red-brown cuprite, green malachite, and bluish azurite. A rich patina noted throughout. Approximate measurements are 5.5"H x 2.5"W diameter and the weight 6oz*