Vessel with a handle and spout. Yortan, Anatolia, c. 2700–2400 B.C.

Vessel with a handle and spout. Yortan, Anatolia, c. 2700–2400 B.C.
Terracotta.
Condition: intact.
Provenance: private collection, Netherlands.
Measurements: 22.5 cm in height.

Terracotta vessel from the Yortan culture, dating to the Early Bronze Age in Anatolia. The piece features a globular body, a high neck, a trilobed spout, and a vertical handle on the back, forming a typology characteristic of this ceramic production from western Anatolia.

The Yortan culture is particularly known for its grave goods and for pottery characterized by sober, functional forms and a powerful archaic quality. Its vessels are often distinguished by the boldness of their volumes, their ornamental austerity, and the careful balance between body, neck, handle, and spout.

In this example, the dark surface with natural wear reveals lighter areas of the terracotta, creating an archaeological patina of great visual appeal. The spherical body contrasts with the verticality of the neck and the curve of the handle, creating an elegant and compact silhouette. The small side hole near the neck reinforces its functional character, possibly linked to the controlled pouring of liquids in domestic, ritual, or funerary contexts.

Its intact condition is particularly significant for a piece of such great antiquity. Due to its age, clear typological classification, good condition, and formal presence, it constitutes an attractive example of Anatolian Bronze Age pottery and the refined material culture of Yortan.