Napatan Period Terracotta Pilgrim Flask

Kingdom of Kush, Napatan Period, c. 700-400 BC, Lower and Upper Nubia (Sudan), Africa 

This rare and significant small-sized terracotta pilgrim flask is of circular form, with a biconvex body adorned with shallow concentric grooves on each side. The vessel is composed of two hemispherical halves, joined vertically with soft seams, showcasing the craftsmanship of the period. A narrow, short neck is inserted at the top, flanked by two small loop handles at its base. These handles, tightly folded, are decorative and non-functional, adding to the unique aesthetic of the flask. The neck is finished with a rolled rim, further highlighting the fine details of this functional yet artful object.

The Napatan Period (c. 700-400 BC) derives its name from Napata, the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Kush during this era. Located near the site of modern Karima in Sudan, Napata was a significant center of power and culture. The kingdom was heavily influenced by Egyptian traditions, including their gods, writing systems, and funerary practices. The Kushite kings, who ruled Egypt as the 25th Dynasty (c. 750-656 BC), were buried in small pyramids at sites like Nuri and el Kurru, where they were interred with Egyptian-style burial goods such as shabtis, pottery, and sarcophagi.

Napata served as a religious and cultural hub for the Kingdom of Kush, and its kings’ conquests of Egypt marked the apex of Kushite power. However, by the end of the 25th Dynasty, the capital was relocated to Meroë, continuing the legacy of the powerful Kushite civilization. This beautifully crafted flask is a testament to the artistic and cultural exchanges between Nubia and Egypt during this fascinating period of African history.

Good condition. Traces of external red slip paint. Age-related wear. Fractures and cracks. Repaired. Glue residue. Mineral encrustation and earthen deposits. Traces of old museum label. Size approx. 9,1cm x 7,7cm x 6,1cm.

Provenance: Finnish private collection.

For a similar examples see:

Small pilgrim flask, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Accession Number: 20.4804 (https://collections.mfa.org/objects/491314/small-pilgrim-flask?ctx=3b9c8ae5-c854-4109-87de-e5e4c30523e6&idx=21)

Pilgrim flask, The British Museum, Accession Number: EA22340 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/Y_EA22340)

Small pilgrim flask, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Accession Number: 20.4805 (https://collections.mfa.org/objects/491315/small-pilgrim-flask?ctx=f2754553-284c-4ee5-a214-8c74cd9bdc00&idx=22)

Pink pilgrim ware flask, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Accession Number: AN1920.220 (https://collections.ashmolean.org/object/750169)

References and further reading:

Pilgrim flasks: Chronological and cultural transformations in Nubia from the New Kingdom to the Napatan Period Volume I, L. Kilroe, ORA - Oxford University Research Archive, 2019

The Kingdom of Kush: Handbook of the Napatan-Meroitic Civilization, László Török, Handbuch der Orientalistik, Erste Abteilung, Nahe und der Mittlere Osten, 1997, Vol. 31, Leiden: Brill.

Nubia: Ancient Kingdoms of Africa, Geoff Emberling, New York: Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, 2011, pp. 9–11.

Meroe and the Sudanic Kingdoms, David N. Edwards, The Journal of African History. 39 (2), 1998, pp. 175–193.

Nubia: the Napatan Period, Digital Egypt for Universities, University College London, 2002. (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/nubia/napatan.html)