A terracotta vessel from Ancient Egypt featuring an ovoid body and a pointed base. The mouth is framed by a folded lip. There are earthy encrustations over the piece and some chips to the rim. Ancient Near Eastern artistic production is characterised by finely potted, high fired terracotta vessels, usually enriched by dark pigmented geometric or zoomorphic decorations. Such vessels would have been produced to store food, but also as burial goods to be placed with the deceased in the tomb. Although the first examples of Ancient Western Asiatic pottery production display simple shapes and stylised decorative motives, terracotta wares evolved, embracing aesthetics driven by all the cultures which entered into contact with the Near East. Measurements: Height~7.5cm, Mouth Diameter~2.4cm, Body Width~5cm Provenance: Ex Oxfordshire collection, 1980s.