Vessel. Bronze Age, 2nd–1st millennium B.C.

Vessel. Bronze Age, 2nd–1st millennium B.C.
Terracotta.
Condition: Good condition, no restorations.
Provenance: Private collection.
Measurements: 34.5 cm high; 37 cm between handles; 32 cm in diameter.

A Bronze Age terracotta vessel with a globular body, narrow base, and wide, slightly flared rim. It features two vertical side handles extending from the upper part of the body to the rim, which facilitate handling and reinforce its functional nature. The surface retains a natural earthy hue, with color variations resulting from firing and the passage of time, as well as marks, wear, and deposits characteristic of its age.

The piece belongs to a type of everyday ceramic ware used for storing, transporting, or serving liquids and food. Its shape—with a balanced profile and ample volume—reflects an eminently practical design, in which stability, internal capacity, and ease of grip were fundamental elements. The absence of painted or incised decoration underscores the vessel’s functional simplicity, although its proportions and the design of the handles lend it a striking formal presence.

During the Bronze Age, ceramic production played an essential role in the domestic, economic, and ritual life of communities. Terracotta vessels were used in a variety of contexts, ranging from the domestic sphere to funerary or ceremonial spaces, and today they constitute a fundamental source of information regarding the dietary habits, storage systems, and material organization of these societies.