Cypriotic Terracotta White Painted "Wishbone Handle" Bowl (Milk Bowl) - 11.5 cm

Rare Cypriot White Painted Ware milk bowl made of finely fired light buff terracotta, featuring the characteristic high wishbone-shaped handle. The hemispherical body is decorated with the typical dark brown geometric painted decoration associated with Cypriot White Painted pottery. Encircling horizontal bands below the rim are complemented by vertical stripes and hatched decorative motifs, while the handle is also adorned with linear painted ornamentation.

The elegant open form was probably intended for serving or drinking milk, wine, or other liquids. Bowls of this type are among the characteristic ceramic forms of the Cypriot Iron Age and reflect the distinctive local ceramic tradition that flourished on the island during this period.

Its harmonious proportions and well-preserved geometric decoration make this an attractive example of early Cypriot pottery.

Condition:
Age-related wear throughout. Several old, professionally restored break lines with minor restorations. Minor wear to the painted decoration and small chips, particularly to the rim and the upper end of the handle. Overall well preserved and highly decorative.

Provenance:
Formerly in the Madeleine & Erich Dammann Collection, Germany. Acquired during the owners' extensive travels between 1950 and 1970. The collection has been documented in Germany since 1970 and has remained in continuous family ownership ever since. As was customary for private purchases made in local markets during the 1950s–1970s, purchase receipts or invoices were generally neither issued nor requested. The provenance is therefore supported by the family's continuous ownership, historical photographs documenting the collection in Germany by 1970, and the documented travel history of the collectors.