Kerma ware pottery beaker

The cultures of Kerma flourished between about 2500 and 1500 BC. Their most distinctive products were ceramics. The potters were able to produce incredibly fine vessels by hand, without using a wheel. The pot shown here belongs to the so-called 'Classic Kerma' phase, from around 1750 to around 1550 BC. Classic Kerma pottery is characterized by a black top and a rich red-brown base, separated by an irregular purple-grey band. The black tops and interiors are usually extremely fine and have a distinctive metallic lustrous appearance.