Canaanite fusiform jug - Certificate of authenticity

This slender jug is an archetypal example of ceramic production in the Levant during the Middle and Recent Bronze Ages. Its spindle-shaped silhouette, designed for efficient storage and drawing, is magnified here by its exceptional surface condition. The object is entirely preserved in the "skin" in which it was found: a dense layer of limestone concretions and grey-white sediments enveloping the terracotta. Far from being an imperfection, this mineral gangue is the ultimate seal of authenticity. It attests to a millennia-old chemical interaction with the soil in which it was buried, and guarantees that the piece has not undergone any modern acid cleaning, offering the collector the rarity of a "raw from excavation" state.
Features

Object: Vertical-handled jug (Dipper Juglet).

Culture: Canaanite (Levant).

Period: 1900 - 1400 BC (Middle to Recent Bronze Age).

Material: Beige ceramic, significant limestone concretions on surface.

Dimensions: Height 200 mm × Diameter 94 mm.

Condition: Intact; surface covered with a thick sedimentary patina (excavation concretions).

Provenance: Former private collection from Jerusalem, assembled between 1975 and 1990.

Authenticity: Certificate supplied.

Historical context
Canaan, the commercial crossroads between Egypt and Mesopotamia, developed a ceramic tradition focused on functionality and export. This type of elongated jug, often referred to as a "dipper juglet" by archaeologists, was designed to be dipped into large storage jars (pithoi) to extract wine or oil, or to hold precious liquids (perfumes, ointments). Its narrow shape allowed easy insertion and limited evaporation. Present in both domestic and funerary contexts, they bear witness to the daily life of Semitic populations in the 2nd millennium BC.
Formal and material analysis of the specimen

Morphology: The piece features a cylindrical body tapering to a slightly convex base, typical of vases designed for hanging or plunging. The neck is tulip-shaped to facilitate drip-free pouring. The single handle, linking the shoulder to the edge of the lip, forms a sturdy functional loop.

Surface finish and sedimentation: Visual expertise focuses on texture: the surface is rough, matified by intense calcareous crystallization. These whitish and grayish deposits are evenly distributed, following the slightest irregularities in the paste. This sedimentation is the signature of a dry, chalky burial environment, typical of caves and tombs in the Levant region.

Technique: Although masked by the patina, the regularity of the profile indicates rapid lathe work, mastered by Canaanite craftsmen. The joining of the handle shows solid integration with the body of the vase.

Cultural value
This jug is of prime documentary value. Unlike pieces cleaned for the art market, it retains the integrity of its archaeological history. It is a tangible witness to the biblical and historical strata of the region. For the connoisseur, it offers the mineral aesthetic of pure archaeology, directly evoking the conditions of its rediscovery after nearly four thousand years of silence.
Traceability & guarantees

History: Provenance is guaranteed by its long-standing presence in a private collection in Jerusalem (1975-1990), documenting its geographical origin and legitimacy.

Appraisal: The object is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity guaranteeing the period, culture and condition described.

Ref: R8OIG22DVT