An Alabaster Unguent Jar and Lid, Southern Arabia, 3rd Century B.C./1st Century A.D.

of domed form with twin lug handles each pierced horizontally and carved in the form of a bull's head, the lid surmounted by a couchant canine, each side of the body engraved with a three-letter inscription in South Arabic script, one reading BNN, perhaps for "scent," or "fragrance."

the art conservator John Pogzeba (d. 1983), Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Santa Fe, New Mexico
a gift from the above to the present owner in 1982

St John Simpson, Queen of Sheba: Legend and Reality. Treasures from the British Museum, catalogue of the exhibition at The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, California, 2004, pp. 56-57, illus.

chips on rim, vertical 2-inch long hairline crack through rim, lid somewhat, weathered, minor chips and abrasions, one inscription filled with black substance, two bitumen-like stains on the underside
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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According to John Simpson (op. cit., p. 56) , "This container belongs to a class of so-called "beehive" shaped  jars which date between the 3rd century B.C. and 1st century A.D. Over seventy examples have been published, most of which have been found in southwest Arabia, but occasionally at sites in Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, which were connected with the incense trade, and in one case as far away as Nineveh in northern Iraq. Some of these containers have been found in temples, whereas others were found in private houses or graves. However, only one of these previously published jars was inscribed, in that case simply with the names of two individuals. In this case, however, the jar is inscribed on both sides. Previously, vessels of this distinctive shape have been interpreted as containers for perfumed oils, aromatic gum resins or semi solid unguents (aromatic ointments) such as the "Balm of Gilead," which was described in the Bible as a particularly valuable commodity. The inscription on this jar now confirms that these were indeed used in the incense trade, and that they may even be regarded as branded packaging for one of the most desirable commodities of Ancient Arabia."

For a related example see St John Simpson, ed., Queen of Sheba: Treasures from Ancient Yemen, London, 2002, no. 175.