Jug
Turkey, Ottoman period, second half of 18th century
Hammered and gilt copper (tombak) with hammered and engraved decoration.
H: 34 cm
Markings: Cursive inscription and date on neck (1191 anno Hegirae, i.e., 1777–1778).
UMP 4858
Purchased from Heinrich Kautsch in Paris in 1901.
The execution of this jug reflects the popularity European art enjoyed in the Ottoman court, a trend initiated by the Tulip Period (Lâle Devri, 1718–1730). The country’s affinity for European Baroque and Rococo was primarily expressed in architecture, but it also influenced the applied arts, as can be seen in the opulent relief ornamentation on this jug of otherwise simple form.