Pottery and Vessels

Physical identification

Ceramic vessels, fragments, amphorae, bowls, cups and ritual containers. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Identify fabric, firing, form and surface treatment.
• Repairs, repainting and reconstructed sections must be mapped.
• Contextless pottery can still carry legal and ethical risk.

Provenance and lawful movement

Ask when the object first appeared outside the ground, who owned it, where it was located, how it left its likely source country and whether the seller warrants good title in writing.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.