6th C. Byzantine Pottery Jar w/ Sea Encrustations

Near East / Holy Land, Byzantine Empire, ca. 6th to 10th century CE. This is an incredible pottery vessel that has spent hundreds of years at the bottom of the ocean as evidenced by the accumulation of marine deposits across the surface. The piece rests on a rounded but stable base, and the body has a carinated midsection, a corseted neck, and a broad flared mouth. The red-brown hues of the terracotta under the marine calcite buildup are visible in some areas, but the sea has clearly claimed this vessel as there are fascinating remains of many different types of marine life like barnacles, worm casings, and clam shells! These bowls were made and exported throughout the Empire and many shipwrecks containing pottery and other goods for trade have been discovered throughout the Mediterranean. Size: 6.5" Diameter x 5.25" H (16.5 cm x 13.3 cm)

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

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#169392
Condition Report: Chip to rim, otherwise intact and very good. Encrusted throughout with a thick layer of calcite and marine deposits such as barnacles and shells.