Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1800
Publication Place
Turkey (made) -
Subject
Ceramics Earthenware Interiors Household Objects Shekou Values of Design Design Society
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 7.5in, Diameter: 5.125in, Cup with cover height: 194.0mm, Cup without cover height: 148.0mm, Side with handle depth: 142.0mm, Side without handle width: 130.0mm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
924-1875
Record ID
924-1875
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1800
Notes
This cup was made from a special clay from the island of Lemnos in the Aegean, thought to have health benefits including offering protection against poison. The clay was used to make drinking vessels in prehistoric times, and people even ate the clay itself. The Ottomans conquered Lemnos in 1453, and the Ottoman governor of the island presided over an annual ceremony to dig up the clay on 6 August each year. This may have been a revival of the tradition from Antiquity, or the clay may have been in continuous use on the island. Because it was only excavated for 6 hours per year, the clay was very rare, and so vessels made from it were marked with a special seal to prove that they were genuine. The seal can be seen at the base of the handle of this cup. The Latin word for a seal - sigillum - gave these vessels the name terra sigillata or 'sealed earth'. Wares made from this clay are also known as Terra Lemnia after the island of Lemnos. Red clay from Lemnos was particularly prized, and was used at the Ottoman court and even shaved into the Sultan's food. Whiter clay was used to make vessels like this for sale in the Istanbul bazaar.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Unglazed white earthenware with stamped decoration. Earthenware
Fiziksel açıklama
Unglazed white earthenware cup and cover, with a filter inside, stamped on the outside with diapered bands of decoration.
Üretim
made using clay from Lemnos
Üslup
Ottoman
