Ancient Egyptian Faience New Year's Flask - A Vessel for Good Fortune Circa 660-525 BC An interesting faience flask with a flattened lentoid body and a short cylindrical neck terminating in a flared rim. Two pierced lug handles flank the neck. One face is decorated in low relief with a rosette. The reverse displays a radiating floral motif, with overlapping petals extending from a central point towards the edges of the vessel. New Year's flasks were produced in ancient Egypt, particularly during the Late Period, and were closely associated with the celebration of Wepet Renpet, the beginning of the Egyptian year. This occasion traditionally coincided with the season of the Nile inundation, when the annual flooding renewed the fertility of the agricultural land. Such vessels were probably exchanged as gifts conveying wishes for prosperity, protection and good fortune. Many examples bear hieroglyphic inscriptions invoking divine blessings for the coming year, often accompanied by floral ornament and images associated with regeneration. They are generally thought to have contained water from the Nile, although perfume or oil may also have been used. Size: 6cm x 4cm x 2cm Provenance: Private European Collection; formerly acquired from old UK and European collection formed since the 1970s. COMBINED SHIPPING We offer combined shipping only for items purchased in the same auction. You need to pay for these together; otherwise, the system will not combine shipping. We don't combine and refund shipping afterwards. SHIPPING WITHIN THE EU ONLY! We ship exclusively to addresses within the European Union. Please ensure that you can provide an EU delivery address before bidding.