Ancient Near East, Holy Land, Iron Age II, ca. 800 to 500 BCE. A large hand-built terracotta offering vessel with two main components. First is an openwork conical pedestal with a slight concave base and four thin columns with incised linear designs which culminate in a solid shoulder with a raised, perforated rim. The second component is a large basin which sits on top of the conical pedestal base. The bowl has a flat bottom, rolled walls with a horizontal groove near the top, a deep interior cavity, and seven applied candle holders encircling the rim. This form suggests that it was a Menorah, as the original Menorah was circular with seven spouts. Patrons extending offerings would place their contribution inside of the interior cavity while seven candles burned brightly around it, though offerings could also be placed in and around the pedestal base. Light-orange in color, these are two halves of the same beautiful vessel! Size (base): 5" H (12.7 cm); size (bowl): 4" H (10.2 cm).

The use of terracotta in the Holy Land began roughly around 3000 BCE, replacing stone and reed vessels as the less-expensive and easier-to-produce method. Offering vessels were traditionally a single vessel placed in or near an altar or temple, though with the prevalence of certain religious beliefs and deities, these vessels became more and more elaborate. Two-part vessels like this example are typically more difficult to find intact because of the fragile openwork design of the bottom portions as well as the chances of the halves becoming separated over time.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection, acquired before 2000 from BC Galleries in Australia

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#131028

Bowl has repair to one candle holder. Both components have expected age-commensurate surface wear, small nicks and chips, and light fading to surface coloration, otherwise excellent. Nice earthen and mineral deposits throughout.