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Ruth Garrido Vila

ITEM: Cup
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Merovingian
PERIOD: 5th - 7th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 89 mm x 80 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition, repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired between 1960 - 1990

Merovingian pottery, dating from the 5th to 8th centuries CE, reflects the material culture of the Merovingian dynasty, which ruled much of what is now France and parts of Germany. The pottery of this period was primarily utilitarian, with forms such as cooking pots, storage vessels, and bowls made from hand-built or wheel-thrown techniques. Unlike the highly decorated ceramics of later medieval periods, Merovingian pottery was generally plain, often with simple incised or stamped geometric motifs. The predominant material was coarse earthenware, fired in kilns that produced a range of colors from gray to brown, depending on the firing conditions and oxygen levels.

Archaeological finds suggest that Merovingian pottery was produced both in rural workshops and near urban centers, indicating a decentralized production system. Certain regional styles have been identified, with distinct shapes and decorative techniques varying by locality. In some cases, influences from Roman pottery traditions persisted, particularly in the use of wheel-thrown techniques and vessel forms. However, by the later Merovingian period, new stylistic elements emerged, reflecting shifting cultural and economic patterns. Some pottery was burnished to achieve a smoother surface, while others displayed rough, sand-tempered textures for practical purposes, such as better heat resistance in cooking vessels.

Merovingian ceramic finds are invaluable to archaeologists in reconstructing aspects of daily life, trade, and technological advancement in early medieval Europe. The distribution of pottery types across settlements provides insights into trade networks, as certain styles and manufacturing techniques appear to have been widely shared or imitated. 

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5th - 7th Century A.D - Unknown

Merovingian Pottery Cup  (No Reserve Price)

Archaeology

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1960-1970

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Independence (1947-present)

Liao Dynasty (916-1125)

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

Cretaceous, Lower (145 - 100.5 million years)

Jurassic, Upper (163.5 - 145 million years)

Devonian (419.2 - 358.9 million years)

Ordovician (485.4 - 443.8 million years)

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2024

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Merovingian Pottery Cup (No Reserve Price)

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