Help ID Middle East Pottery Flask

[jamesk58]

This was handed down through my family but no one really knows what it is other than possibly ancient Egyptian. Some type of vessel for oil or scents maybe? Unfortunately the top has been broken off and it did have a stopper at one time. It could be repaired, just trying to find out what it is and if it has any value.
Thanks for any help.

 

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[Red-Coat]

Welcome to Tnet

Now that's a nice thing! What a shame it's broken, but I think it would deserve some careful restoration.

My thoughts are that it is indeed Egyptian and probably Late Dynastic. It looks to made of 'faience' rather than pottery as such.

These things are generally known as 'New Year's Bottles (or Flasks)' and were made to hold perfumes, oils and such for ritual use, but also specifically water from the river Nile offered as a celebratory gift for the New Year. The Egyptian New Year began at the start of the flood season, so offering water from the Nile was a particular way of symbolising the new cycle.

Here's a couple of examples (both made from faience):



Both of these are from the 26th Dynasty and include the cartouche for Ahmose II (570-526 BC). In addition to geometric designs and flowers, these bottles often have other New Year related designs and inscriptions, especially on the 'edge'. These both have "Happy New Year" in hieroglyphs and the first one also has two baboons (sacred to the god Thoth, to whom the first month of the year was dedicated).

Anything on the edge of yours, or any other inscriptions? Look closely on the neck too for any kind of hieroglyph.

 

[Red-Coat]

PS: As far as I can tell from the pictures, it does not appear to be a modern tourist or period 'collector market' reproduction... but it is always a possibility to be mindful of.

 

[crashbandicoot]

Welcome to Tnet and thanks redcoat.