Ancient Greek Terracotta ミニチュアの一手持ち奉納壺 (No reserve price)

Ancient Greek Miniature One-Handled Votive Vessel – Hellenistic Period

Culture: Ancient Greek
Period: Late Classical – Hellenistic
Date: circa 4th–1st century BC
Material: Terracotta
Type: Miniature one-handled vessel, probably votive
Technique: Wheel-made
Height: 27 mm
Diameter: 19 mm
Weight: 25 g

Description

A particularly charming Ancient Greek miniature one-handled terracotta vessel, belonging to the long tradition of miniature pottery produced throughout the Greek world.

Despite its extremely small dimensions, the vessel is carefully formed and preserves all the principal elements of a full-sized ceramic container.

It presents a compact body with a clearly articulated shoulder, a short concave neck and a relatively broad opening with rounded rim. A very small vertical loop handle is applied between the rim and upper body.

The underside is particularly interesting, preserving a series of clearly visible concentric grooves associated with the wheel-forming and finishing process. These marks provide direct evidence of the technique employed in the manufacture of this remarkably small vessel.

Miniature ceramic vessels are well documented throughout the ancient Greek world. Because of their deliberately reduced scale, such objects are frequently associated with votive, ritual and funerary contexts, where miniature vessels could function as symbolic substitutes for full-sized containers or as small offerings.

The precise original function of the present example cannot be established without its archaeological find context, and its interpretation as a votive vessel should therefore be regarded as probable rather than certain.

Condition

The vessel is substantially complete, including its original miniature handle.

The surface displays age-related wear together with extensive pale mineral and burial deposits and encrustations. Minor abrasions and small surface losses are present.

The concentric wheel marks on the underside remain particularly well preserved and clearly visible.

A highly appealing and unusual example of Ancient Greek miniature pottery, remarkable for its diminutive scale, complete surviving profile and visible evidence of ancient wheel manufacture.

Attribution note: The attribution to the Greek Late Classical–Hellenistic tradition is based on morphological comparisons with published miniature vessels. In the absence of archaeological find context or archaeometric analysis, a more precise regional attribution cannot be established with certainty.