Lot 97: A BLACK TOPPED POTTERY JAR, PREDYNASTIC PERIOD (NAQADA I), 4000 BC - 3500 B.C.

This hand-built ceramic vessel is of ovoid form, dating to the Naqada I or Naqada II period of Predynastic Egypt. The jar is constructed from Nile silt clay and features the characteristic black-topped red ware decorative finish. This two-toned effect was achieved by placing the rim of the pot into organic matter such as chaff or sawdust during the final stages of firing; the localized reduction atmosphere carbonised the clay to a deep black, while the remainder of the body was oxidised to a rich terracotta colour. Both the black and red sections have been burnished to a smooth, reflective sheen. The vessel tapers from a wide rim to a narrow, pointed base. 

L: 13.5cm