Hellenistic pottery vessel - 120 mm

Hellenistic Pottery Vessel

Culture / Period: Hellenistic
Date / Period: 4th century B.C.
Material: Pottery
Dimensions: 120 mm
Condition: Good condition, with minor surface wear and small losses consistent with age. Intact loop handles and well-preserved ribbed body decoration.

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 107

The current owner purchased the Hellenistic pottery vessel from a private collector, N.N., in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Oosterbeek, stated that the object had been in his collection since 2025.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This small Hellenistic pottery vessel dates to the 4th century B.C. and represents a practical ceramic form used throughout the eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic period. The vessel features a rounded globular body with a slightly narrowing neck and two opposed loop handles positioned below the rim, allowing for easy handling and suspension. The exterior is decorated with horizontal ribbing, created during the turning process on the potter’s wheel, a characteristic feature seen on utilitarian wares of the period.

Pottery vessels of this type were commonly used for the storage and serving of liquids, oils, grains, or other household commodities. In the Hellenistic world, ceramic containers formed an essential part of daily domestic life and were produced in large numbers in regional workshops across Greece, Asia Minor, the Levant, and Egypt. Their shapes often followed long-established traditions while adapting to changing local tastes and practical requirements.

The Hellenistic period, following the conquests of Alexander the Great, was marked by extensive cultural exchange and intensified trade networks across the Mediterranean and Near East. Everyday ceramic wares such as this example circulated widely through commercial and local distribution systems, reflecting the interconnected nature of Hellenistic society. Although utilitarian in purpose, vessels of this kind demonstrate the technical skill of ancient potters, who achieved balanced proportions and durable forms through organised workshop production.

The ribbed decoration not only added visual texture but also strengthened the vessel walls and improved grip during use. Such practical refinements illustrate the close relationship between craftsmanship and functionality in ancient ceramic production. Comparable examples have been recovered from domestic settlements, storage areas, and burial contexts throughout the Hellenistic world.

This piece provides a direct and tangible connection to the people of antiquity, where objects of this kind formed part of everyday household life more than two thousand years ago."