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: no restorations.
Provenance: private collection, Netherlands.
Measurements: 28 cm high.

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, creating a balanced silhouette with a strong archaic presence. The surface, with light tones and dark spots, retains an attractive archaeological patina that underscores its antiquity.

The Yortan culture, which developed in western Anatolia, is particularly renowned for its funerary pottery, characterized by austere forms, bold volumes, and vessels used for ritual or ceremonial purposes. Their vessels typically display a remarkable sense of proportion and functionality carefully integrated into the form, as seen in this example.

The spherical body of the vessel is marked by its contrast with the verticality of the neck and the curve of the handle, creating a composition of simple yet highly expressive lines. The incised or raised decoration, visible on the upper part of the body through curvilinear motifs, adds a subtle ornamental rhythm without altering the piece’s overall austerity.