Anthropomorph verzierte Gefäßkeramik des Mittelalters aus Lübeck

The monograph presents a small group of pottery vessels of the Danish Baltic Empire in the 13th century which, due to the labourious production process, was a special luxury already at the time of its fabrication. The largest sub-group are stylised “monk’s faces” with a hood, that in reality belonged to round dancing women, probably at a maypole, but there are also individuals with a beard. Their occurrence concentrates at sites with easy accessibility from the sea. Because of their limited number, the associated jugs or flagons were no trade goods by themselves, but rather presents, souvenirs, personal items or trade byproducts. Mostly, the face alone survives, which was placed at the weakest point of the vessel and is most easily recognised during find analysis. Although it is taken for granted that several workshops existed, only the production site in Lübeck is proven by pottery wasters. A characteristic stamp attests that products of a single workshop were transported over long distances. There are parallels with vessels from Flanders and England, although the type of decoration might also have emerged three times independently.