Bronze / Iron Age Baby Feeding Animal Vessel

Handcrafted Replica Bronze Age Zoomorphic Feeding Vessel

Details

Zoomorphic feeding vessels like this have been excavated at sites across Europe, providing fascinating insights into early infant care and healthcare practices. This replica is based on three notable finds from:

• Vösendorf, Austria
• Znojmo, Czech Republic
• Statzendorf, Austria

Further inspiration was drawn from Dr Julie Dunne et al.'s research at the University of Bristol, which examined burials from the Bronze and Iron Ages containing similar vessels. These objects featured a small bowl with a thin tube protruding from the side, resembling an early feeding bottle.

The oldest known clay feeding vessels date back to Neolithic Europe, and chemical analysis has revealed milk residues from ruminant animals, supporting the theory that they were used for feeding infants or the sick.

A Shift in Childcare & Society

If used to supplement infant feeding, these vessels may mark a crucial shift in parenting practices. By allowing mothers to reduce or stop breastfeeding, families may have been able to have more children at a faster rate, significantly impacting population growth and community expansion.

However, their exact function remains uncertain. While they may have been used for weaning infants, some researchers suggest they could have also served as feeding vessels for the ill or elderly.

Materials

• Smoke-fired terracotta

Dimensions

• Vösendorf (Austria): Approx. Height: 95 mm, Diameter: 80 mm
• Znojmo (Czech Republic): Approx. Height: 70 mm, Diameter: 80 mm

Production

As with all my Museum Quality Replicas, this vessel has been handcrafted in Northumberland by Potted History, following ancient techniques.

• Hand-built from natural clay, closely matching the materials used by the original potters
• Surface finished with beeswax polish, a substance identified in residue analysis of similar artefacts
• Where ancient potters used hand tools, I have replicated them using stone, wood, shell, bone, and antler, informed by marks found on original artefacts

Firing Process

To achieve an authentic appearance, this vessel has been wood-fired, replicating ancient open-firing techniques.

• Original vessels were fired in open wood fires, in direct contact with the fuel, creating natural variations in surface colour
• To increase durability, this replica has been fired at a slightly higher temperature, strengthening it while maintaining an authentic prehistoric finish

Health & Safety

This is a Museum Quality Replica and not intended for use.

• Do NOT use this vessel to feed infants, the ill, or anyone else.
• Modern feeding vessels have been designed with years of research and safety standards—please use those instead.
• This replica is for display and educational purposes only.

Ordering Information

• 'Add to Basket' Items: Ready to ship immediately.
• 'Pre-order' Items: Handmade to order within 90 days (longer for international orders). If your order includes both 'Add to Basket' and 'Pre-order' items, they will be shipped together once all items are ready.

Shipping

• All items are sent via second-class postal service as standard.
• If you require first-class shipping, please contact me for a custom quote.

Own a fascinating piece of early childcare history with this handcrafted replica Bronze Age Zoomorphic Feeding Vessel. Order today!