The Master of Tarquin Hill was a Kurlan pioneer in ceramic sculpture who was active more than 12,000 years before the 24th century. The Master's designs were so advanced that they were considered to be three hundred years ahead of their time. As of 2369, Federation archeologists had yet to discover the Master's name, simply knowing the artist by the work.
In 2369, noted Federation historian Professor Richard Galen acquired a complete Third Dynasty Kurlan naiskos produced by the Master and gave it to his former protegee, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Because the Master's work anticipated general design trends by such a large margin, Picard's initial assessment was that it was Fifth Dynasty. However, after a prompt from Galen, he made a closer examination and correctly identified it. (TNG: "The Chase")