Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Echinus Bowl / Salt Cellar (No reserve price)

Ancient Greek Hellenistic Pottery Echinus Bowl / Salt Cellar – 4th–3rd Century BC

Description
Ancient Greek Hellenistic Pottery Echinus Bowl (“Salt Cellar”)
South Italy / Sicily, circa 4th–3rd century BC
A fine and characteristic small Greek pottery bowl of the echinus type, traditionally referred to in archaeological literature as a “salt cellar”, dating to the Late Classical–Early Hellenistic period.

Wheel-thrown in reddish terracotta, the vessel presents a shallow rounded body with gently incurving walls, a simple rounded rim and a clearly defined low ring foot.
Its remarkably compact proportions are characteristic of this particular class of Greek tableware. Small echinus bowls were used for serving salt, spices or other condiments during the meal.

The type originated in the Greek world during the Classical period and subsequently became widespread throughout the Mediterranean. Particularly close parallels are documented in Sicily, where examples were already produced during the 4th century BC. At Morgantina, numerous Hellenistic examples dating from the late 4th and 3rd centuries BC have rim diameters of approximately 7–8 cm, closely corresponding to the 7.4 cm diameter of the present vessel.

Princeton University Press
The surface retains its attractive ancient reddish coloration beneath extensive whitish mineral and burial deposits, particularly visible both inside the bowl and around the exterior. These deposits give the vessel a highly archaeological appearance and have deliberately been left untouched.

Dimensions
Diameter: 74 mm
Height: 26 mm
Weight: 60 g

Condition
Very good condition considering its age. Complete and preserving its original profile. Surface wear, mineral deposits and encrustations consistent with age and burial. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the condition report.

Dating
Late Classical – Early Hellenistic period, circa 4th–3rd century BC
Culture / Attribution
Ancient Greek – probably South Italian or Sicilian

Bibliographical comparison
For the type and its Sicilian development, see:
S. C. Stone, Morgantina Studies, Volume VI: The Hellenistic and Roman Fine Pottery, pp. 92–94, discussing small echinus bowls or “saltcellars”, including locally produced examples with rim diameters of approximately 7–8 cm.

Princeton University Press
An earlier Attic prototype of the convex/echinus-wall salt-cellar type is also preserved in the British Museum, illustrating the Classical origin from which later regional forms developed.