Holy Land Terracotta Bowl

Middle Bronze Age, c. 1900–1550 BC, Palestine

A finely potted small terracotta bowl, remarkable for its elegant simplicity and balanced proportions. Formed from a light brown-orange clay fabric with mica inclusions, the vessel features a deep, rounded body with gently convex walls, a pronounced flange molding, and a softly rounded rim. Subtle wheel marks remain visible along the lower body, preserving the tactile traces of ancient craftsmanship. The bowl rests on a low, slightly raised pedestal foot.

The Holy Land was among the earliest regions to enter the Bronze Age, a transformation that began with the rise of Mesopotamian Sumer in the mid-fourth millennium BC and extended over a thousand years. The discovery of Canaanite vessels among the funerary offerings in the royal tombs of Egypt’s First Dynasty reveals a significant cultural and trade connection between this region and the Early Bronze Age civilizations of the Nile Valley. Such ceramics have become key chronological markers in the archaeology of the Near East, representing both the artistic refinement and cross-cultural exchange that characterized the ancient Levant.

Good condition. Small chips to the rim; otherwise intact. Surface wear consistent with age and use. Areas of lime deposits and multiple root marks present. Size approx. 11,2cm x 10,7cm x 5,5cm. 

Provenance: British private collection.