Exceptional Ancient Khmer ceramic pot made in Cambodia during the Angkor Period (approximately X century). It's an extremely rare, museum quality artifact used as a container for holding slaked lime which along with betel nut was needed in the preparation of sacred hallucinogenic mixture t used during the ceremonies and rituals. It has a highly detailed spherical form depicting a bird with highlighted eyes, beak and tail, as well precisely incised vertical and horizontal lines around its body. The whole is covered by a beautiful brown glaze and based on a small round step providing excellent stabilization. Very good condition - intact and well-preserved Dimensions: 81 mm (W) x 81 mm (D) x 71 mm (H) PROVENANCE INFORMATION: Artifact was acquired by our company from an ancient art expert Howard S. Rose luxury gallery. Previous ownership history: - Prestigious private collection of Dr. Edmund Bourke Yonkers (NY), USA - Ancient art expert Howard S. Rose Arte Primitivo gallery collection New York (NY), USA *** SIMILAR BIRD LIME POTS IN LITERATURE: * author - D.F. Frasche "Southeast Asian Ceramics" published - 1976 / #13. * Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong "Southeast Asian and Chinese Trade Pottery" published - 1979 / page 219 * author - J.C. Shaw "Introducing Thai Ceramics Also Burmese and Khmer" published - 1987 / page 21 * author - Prof. Dr. Roger Goepper "Legend and Reality: Early Ceramics from South-East Asia" published - 1977 / figures 39a - 45b * author - Hiroshi Fujiwara "Khmer ceramics from the Kamratan collection in the Southeast Asian ceramics museum, H. Fujiwara, Kyoto" published - 1990 / pp. 74-79.