Cypriot Terracotta / Red Polished Ware Ancient Cyprus – Red Polished Ware Bowl with Horned Handle - 10 cm

Fine Cypriot Red Polished Ware bowl dating to the Middle Bronze Age. Vessels belonging to this distinctive ceramic tradition are characteristic products of Bronze Age Cyprus and predate the later White Slip Ware tradition, including the well-known so-called “Milk Bowls”.

The vessel has a deep, approximately hemispherical body, with a rounded base and a slightly incurved, evenly formed rim. Its relatively thin walls and carefully smoothed reddish to reddish-brown surface give the bowl a balanced and elegant profile.

A particularly distinctive feature is the tall arched or parabolic handle, rising prominently above the rim. At its uppermost point, the handle is decorated with several transverse incised grooves before joining the vessel wall. Opposite the handle is a small projecting horn-like applied element at the rim, giving the vessel its unusual and characteristic appearance.

The surface displays the warm reddish-brown colour typical of Cypriot Red Polished Ware and was carefully smoothed and polished. Minor irregularities and traces of manufacture remain visible, reflecting its handmade production.

Bowls of this type formed part of the ceramic repertoire of Bronze Age Cyprus. Given its manageable size, deep bowl and pronounced handle, comparable vessels may have served as personal drinking or food vessels, although the precise original function cannot be established without an archaeological find context.

The Red Polished Ware tradition is particularly characteristic of the Early and Middle Bronze Age on Cyprus and represents an important element of the island's distinctive prehistoric ceramic culture.

Age-related surface wear and signs of use, with minor scratches and areas of mineral deposits. Small chips to the rim and the applied horn-like element. The handle is preserved. Overall attractive reddish-brown surface with visible remains of the original polishing. Please refer to the photographs for the exact condition.

The modern display stand is used solely for presentation and is not part of the ancient object.

Provenance

Formerly in the Madeleine & Erich Dammann Collection, Germany.

Acquired during the collectors’ extensive travels between 1950 and 1970. The collection is documented in Germany by 1970 through historical photographs of the family residence and subsequently remained in continuous family ownership.

The objects were acquired privately during the collectors’ travels. As was customary for private purchases made at local markets during the 1950s and 1960s, purchase receipts or invoices were generally neither issued nor requested.

Historical photographs and biographical documentation relating to the Dammann Collection are available and support the long-standing provenance of the collection.