A stunning Indus Valley terracotta plate, featuring attractive animal and geometric decorations. The plate is circular in shape, with a raised, rounded lip, which hangs over the circular, flat, base. The rim of the plate is decorated by lozenge-shaped panels of linear decorations, framed by two lines, all depicted in black pigment. The lip curves downwards to meet the flat circular base, which is decorated by more encircling bands of pigment. Two horned bulls are painted on the tondo of the plate, surrounded by vegetation, concentric circles, and other such symbols. They are rendered stylistically, standing facing the other's tail, with open mouths, humps, large round eyes, and linear decorations on their bodies. Earthly encrustations to the surface and signs of wear as consistent with its age, such as chips to the rim and base of the plate. A crack runs through the middle of the plate that has been visibly repaired, but the image is still clear and legible. The Indus Valley Civilisation was one of three early and widespread cradles of civilisation along with Ancient Egypt and the Near East. At its peak, the Indus Valley Civilisation, which included such sites as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, may have had a population of over five million, who developed new techniques in pottery, seal carving, and metallurgy. They were accustomed to creating small terracotta figurines, many of which took the form of zoomorphic characters, with the cow being one of the most popular. Measurements: (circa) D 20.5cm x H 2cm Provenance: From the David Gold (deceased) collection, 1970’s.