European Bronze Age Pottery Vessel - 18.5 cm

European Bronze Age Pottery Vessel
Culture / Period: European Bronze Age
Date / Period: Bronze Age
Material: Pottery (earthenware)
Dimensions: Height 132 mm × Diameter 185 mm
Condition: Archaeological condition. The vessel retains its characteristic wide, tapering body and relatively narrow, flat base. Multiple visible cracks and fracture lines are present, particularly around the upper section and rim, with several chips and losses along the rim. The dark grey-brown surface displays age-related wear, discolouration and natural variations in colour and texture.

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 1043
The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the vessel from J.P. in Eijsden, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, J.P. from Eijsden, the Netherlands, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.
According to the previous owner, the vessel had previously belonged to a private collection in the Netherlands, reportedly dating back to the 1990s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This European Bronze Age pottery vessel features a distinctive open, tapering body, a broad mouth with a slightly thickened rim and a relatively narrow, flat base. Its simple, undecorated form and dark grey-brown surface reflect the practical ceramic traditions of prehistoric European communities.

During the Bronze Age, pottery vessels were essential objects in everyday domestic life. Open vessels of this general form could be used for preparing, mixing, holding and serving food or other household materials. Their broad openings provided convenient access to the contents, while their sturdy construction made them suitable for regular use within prehistoric households and agricultural settlements.

Bronze Age pottery was generally handmade from locally available clay, using established techniques such as coil construction and surface smoothing. Firing took place in open fires or simple firing structures, where variations in temperature and oxygen supply could produce the grey, brown and black surfaces characteristic of many prehistoric ceramics. Regional pottery traditions developed across Europe, with similarities in vessel forms reflecting shared practical requirements and cultural contacts between communities.

The vessel's substantial proportions and straightforward construction illustrate the functional craftsmanship of Bronze Age pottery production. It provides a direct and tangible connection to everyday life in prehistoric Europe, where handmade ceramic vessels played an indispensable role in domestic activities.