Ths baluster shaped urn has a globular shaped body, wide flanged mouth, carved tier at the upper shoulder and flared pedestal foot. It is covered in a dark brown glaze which stops irregularly at the foot. The urn is decorated with incised patterns and applied elephant-head spout on the shoulder. The form of this urn suggests it was probably used as a ceremonial vessel as a container for flowers to be placed on altars or as a storage vessel for ritual objects.Khmer ceramics have a variety of distinctive forms. However, only two types of glazes were used. One was thin, pale green, usually translucent and finely crazed while the other varied from chestnut brown to olive-green and black and always mottled. Sometimes these two glazes were used on one piece.Excavations show that brown glazed wares were produced by the late tenth century. Khmer ceramics are noted for their simplicity in design. Decoration was used in moderation thus allowing for the beauty of the forms to stand out.
