Bottle

Bottle with an egg-shaped body and a narrow neck, concluding in a protruding ring immediately below the vessel’s lip. The exterior of the vessel, especially along the bottom, is coated with a thick red slip that while peeling and broken in places, especially on the shoulder of the vessel, is still smooth to the touch. The shape is diagnostic in that the narrow opening (interior diameter: 3.0 cm) could not have accommodated many types of solid objects. Instead the vessel is ideal for liquids. It seems reasonable to suggest that this bottle was placed in a grave as a beer container, although because of its suitability for liquids in general it is could have been utilised for other beverages such as water, milk or wine. For a discussion about the object see Nicky Nielsen, 'Journal of Egyptian Archaeology' 2014 pp. 483-8. CONDITION NOTE (1998): Chipped, pitted, some surface loss, surface dirt, labels adhered to surface. Hilton Price collection no. 3436. Purchased for Sir Henry Wellcome at Sotheby's, London, 12-17 July 1911 lot 746/4: "A bottle-shaped Vase of primitive red pottery; 8 1/2 in. high; ovoid body with small base and narrow mouth; Nagada; (3783). Another, with round base and long neck; of coarse red pottery; XVIII Dynasty; Gurob; (3436). And two pottery Vases from Alexandria, with designs painted in tempera; one with line patterns, the other with coloured bands, MNYZ on a tablet, and a serpent; (3335, 3383); an interesting lot". Hilton Price sale inventory number HP 521 "Vase of rough red ware. Round base and long neck. Very much soiled. XVIII th Dynasty BC 1450. Gurob. 9 3/4 high. 3436".