Canaanite Carinated Terracotta Bowl

Middle Bronze Age, c. 1900–1600 BC, Levant, Holy Land

This finely sculpted off-white terracotta bowl exemplifies the advanced pottery techniques of the Canaanite civilization. Featuring a globular body, round bottom, and sharply carinated shoulder, it transitions into a flaring rim, suggesting its likely use as a drinking vessel for wine. The wide opening with a slightly everted lip, combined with the vessel’s thin walls and interior radiating horizontal lines, indicates a high level of craftsmanship, possibly representing an early example of wheel-made pottery.

The term "carination" refers to the sharp curvature in pottery forms, a hallmark of Middle Bronze Age ceramics. With the advent of the potter’s wheel in the second millennium BC, Canaanite artisans developed sharper, more distinctive vessel shapes, distinguishing their work from the handmade pottery of the Early Bronze Age. This technological advancement allowed for greater uniformity and precision, making carinated designs a key feature in identifying Middle Bronze Age pottery.

Most Bronze Age terracotta bowls from the Holy Land were made for daily use, serving both practical and ceremonial purposes. These vessels have played a crucial role in establishing the chronology of the Near East, particularly in the Early Bronze Age, where their stylistic evolution helps archaeologists date settlements and cultural phases. Alongside this bowl, numerous other vessel types have been excavated from the region, each shedding light on the domestic, economic, and ritual practices of ancient Canaanite society.

Excellent condition. Intact. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, with chip and nicks. Light encrusted deposits. Size approx. 9,5cm x 11,2cm x 11.3cm.

Provenance: Finnish private collection.