A Set of Two Israelite Red Slip Ceramic Vessels, Iron Age, 900 B.C.E. - 800 B.C.E.
H. 21 cm & 15.5 cm
KB_PT_2517
Further images
Provenance
The Private Collection of the Baidun FamilyMahmoud Baidun (1920-1980) founded what would become Khader M Badiun and Sons Galleries in Jerusalem, Isreal. As a young boy, Mahmoud would accompany archeologists, biblical scholars, and visiting delegations on excavation sites all over Jerusalem and other sites within the country. Earning the trust of scholars and archeologists alike, Mahmoud became an indispensable presence and guide to other visiting scholars. When Mr. Baidun entered the antiquities trade, he would be granted trade license under the British Mandate and from the Hashemite Kingdom. When Israel authorized the trade of antiquities, Mahmoud was issued one of the first antiquities licenses issued in the country. He would later forge close relationships with other merchants; slowly building a massive private collection that would go on to sell to political leaders, international museums, and private collectors globally.
These ancient Israeli red slip ceramic vessels were found together in the mountains west of the Jordan River, an area known both then and now as Samaria. The smaller vessel with the large mouth is a wine decanter while the larger jug was made to hold large amount of cooking oil for generous use in old Israeli cuisine. There is something homey, even quirky, about the thick handles that loop at the top of each vessel. The warm red colors of their grooved exterior transports us to a dimly lit kitchen filled with the smells of traditional meals still savored today across the Levant.