Holy Land Iron Age Terracotta Dipper Juglet with Pinched Spout | Iron Age II Period (c. 1200–586 BCE) | $550.00

Dating back to the Old Testament era, this intact wheel-thrown terracotta juglet links directly to the domestic life and agricultural rhythms of the biblical Holy Land. Manufactured during the Iron Age II period (c. 1200–586 BCE), this style of utilitarian pottery was a standard staple across ancient Levantine towns during the historical period of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Formed from a coarse, iron-rich clay, the vessel features an ovoid reservoir rising to a thick, cylindrical neck with a distinct pinched pouring lip, balanced by a sturdy vertical strap handle. Centuries spent buried deep within ancient biblical tells have left the surface heavily patinated, cloaking the warm, reddish-brown ceramic in a variegated layer of uncleaned burial soil, calcified mineral deposits, and dark organic mottling. This piece has traveled from an ancient Judean archaeological context straight to the licensed showcases of the Hamedian Gallery within the Old City of Jerusalem. Iron Age II Period (c. 1200–586 BCE) | Measures 4 ¼ inches tall (10.8 cm)

Price $550.00 | Purchase Page  | See all SKU: 31151

Domestic routines in an ancient Near Eastern household required narrow-profile containers specifically engineered for liquid transfer, traditionally categorized as "dipper juglets." Rather than serving as static countertop storage, this compact vessel was designed to be plunged directly through the wide mouths of massive, floor-sunken pithoi to draw out small daily rations of fine olive oil, wine, or water. The pinched rim creates a precise pouring spout that prevented waste when transferring expensive fluids into smaller oil lamps or cosmetic bowls, while the robust loop handle ensured a secure grip. Mass-produced by regional village potteries to satisfy basic household needs, these durable juglets were essential, heavily utilized tools across early Levantine towns. Its survival intact indicates it was safely sheltered within a storage alcove during a sudden abandonment, or deposited into a rock-cut family tomb to hold symbolic ritual provisions.

Form & Stylistic Integrity

The profile images illustrate a textbook example of Iron Age II utilitarian ceramic design, featuring an elongated bulbous body, a rounded bottom, and a thick loop handle pulled directly from the lip down to the upper shoulder. Close examination of the interior neck reveals the distinct, concentric rilling lines left behind as the ancient potter pulled the wet clay upward on a manual kick-wheel or stone-pivoted turntable. This item entirely prioritizes thick-walled, heavy durability over ornamental slips or painted registers, resulting in a rugged build engineered to withstand the friction of daily dipping. For the modern observer, the variegated mineral patches and irregular encrustations covering the surface do not cloud the piece; they form a rich material texture that emphasizes the object's authentic passage through time.

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Physical Place of Origin & Materials:

The high density of coarse mineral inclusions and white limestone "grit" visible within the clay fabric points directly to a production origin within the regional pottery kilns of the central Judean hills or the foothills of the Shephelah. Local craftsmen harvested native ferruginous alluvial soils, deliberately tempering the damp mixture with crushed limestone fragments or river sand to improve thermal shock resistance and prevent cracking during firing. Looking closely at the handle attachments reveals faint tooling marks where the artisan firmly pressed the wet clay strap to the shoulder, welding the joint together before pit-firing the vessel to its characteristic dull ochre-red hue. These minor asymmetrical variations and raw material anomalies freeze the real, manual human labor of an ancient Near Eastern craftsman into a permanent, solid reality.

Condition Report & Preservation Status:

This ancient dipper juglet is presented in an exceptional, fully intact excavated condition, displaying a stellar level of structural preservation for an organic Iron Age domestic ceramic. The primary clay body is completely solid, preserving a full original profile entirely free of modern fractures, structural fills, or repair lines. The vertical strap handle remains securely attached at both structural joints, showing only expected micro-roughness along the rim and base edges consistent with centuries of subterranean pressure. The entire surface is blanketed in a highly authentic, consolidated layer of variegated burial soil and white calcified mineral deposits, which remains left uncleaned to protect the raw archaeological integrity of the ceramic. This stable, unmanipulated state grants the vessel superb curatorial character and an excellent display presence.

Provenance: This artifact is backed by a transparent, legally solid pedigree that satisfies modern standards for international antiquities collecting. It was formally acquired from the Hamedian Gallery, a long-established and legally authorized antiquities dealership operating within the historic Old City of Jerusalem, Israel. Under local regulations, licensed dealers track and document the legal transfer of cultural property within the region, ensuring that the item entered private circulation through established frameworks. This verified find-spot and retail origin anchor the vessel to a clear chain of custody, ensuring that it was legally acquired and transferred prior to international trade restrictions. The physical presence of this documented Jerusalem provenance provides a critical layer of security for discriminating historians, certifying both its absolute antiquity and its verified commercial legitimacy.

Price $550.00 | Purchase Page  | See all SKU: 31151

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