Egyptian beaker

ITEM: Beaker
MATERIAL: Pottery, Black-topped red ware
CULTURE: Egyptian
PERIOD: Predynastic, Naqada I, 4000 - 3500 B.C
DIMENSIONS: 90 mm x 81 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition, see pictures
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, M.H., acquired between 1970 - 1980

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The black-topped pottery of the Egyptian Predynastic Naqada I period (c. 4000–3500 BCE) is one of the most distinctive ceramic types from early Egyptian history. These vessels are characterized by a polished red body with a blackened rim, achieved through a specialized firing process. Potters would place the vessels upside down in the kiln and cut off oxygen flow during the final stage of firing, causing the upper portion to turn black due to carbonization. This technique not only gave the pottery its striking visual contrast but also demonstrated the early Egyptians’ control over ceramic production and firing atmospheres.

Functionally, black-topped pottery was used in both domestic and funerary contexts. The vessels came in various shapes, including bowls, beakers, and jars, often with simple, elegant forms that emphasized their smooth, polished surfaces. Many examples have been found in graves, where they likely served as containers for food and drink offerings to the deceased. While Naqada I pottery generally lacks elaborate decoration, the craftsmanship of these vessels—especially their well-burnished surfaces and symmetrical shapes—suggests they were valued items, possibly holding symbolic significance related to rebirth and the afterlife.

The production of black-topped ware declined as the Naqada II period (c. 3500–3200 BCE) progressed, with more elaborate decorated ceramics and other technological advancements emerging. However, this pottery remains a crucial marker of early cultural and technological developments in Egypt. The presence of similar black-topped vessels in neighboring regions, such as Nubia, suggests interactions between early Egyptian societies and their southern neighbors