Nabataean Red Terracotta Egg-Shell Bowl

$278.02

A finely rendered Nabataean red terracotta bowl featuring thin egg-shell-like walls which rise from the tubular base-ring to form a continuously curved profile. The vessel displays the characteristic of the bright orange colour in Nabataean pottery caused by the high level of iron in the clay. Some weathering is present on the bowl’s surface which has left fading on the light cream pigment used to decorate the vessel in the form of a continuous band around the rim.

Date: Circa AD 1st – 2nd Century
Provenance: From an important collection of Near Eastern pottery formed by a gentleman, deceased, before 1988; passed by descent to his family in London and Geneva.
Condition: Good condition, a few minor chips to the rim.

SOLD

SKU: MG-130 Category: Tag:

The Nabataean tribes first encroached upon Jordan and the surrounding area sometime in the 6th century BC. Thought of originally as a nomadic people they settled in the area, existing as an autonomous kingdom until the 2nd century AD, when they were defeated by the Romans. Since the 1st century BC, the Nabateans developed a specific and characteristic style in their pottery production, without any reference to the Hellenistic artistic tradition. Characterised by bright red terracotta and fine modelling, Nabataean pottery usually displays painted decorations and a smooth and matte finishing. Many different shapes have been recovered, including huge jars, pots, flacons for storage of perfumes and ointments, and bowls. One of the most interesting and most recognisable aspects of Nabatean terracotta wares is the thinness of the vessels’ walls, known as egg-shell vessels. Such vessels, featuring a thickness of 1-3 mm and a metallic hardness, were mostly shallow open bowls, extremely difficult to be potted on the potter’s wheel. With the Roman conquest of the area around 150 AD, Nabatean pottery production started losing its thinness and polychrome decoration, becoming more crude and simple.

Weight 100.2 g
Dimensions W 11 x H 6.5 cm
Culture

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Region

Pottery and Porcelain

Reference: For a similar item, please see The Metropolitan Museum, item 67.246.26

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