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$1,500
A striking antique 19th-century Ottoman Turkish tinned-copper ewer, or ibrik, distinguished by its elegant architectural silhouette, elongated pouring spout and beautifully aged surface. Entirely handcrafted, the vessel features a rounded, vertically fluted body resting upon a circular foot. The body rises into a tall tapering neck articulated with molded bands and terminates in a hinged domed lid with a pointed finial. A dramatically elongated, slender curved spout extends upward from the body, balanced on the opposite side by a graceful looping metal handle. The surface retains substantial remnants of its original tin wash, now naturally worn through in areas to reveal the warmer copper beneath. This contrast between silvery tinning, exposed copper, oxidation and darkened patina gives the vessel considerable visual depth and is characteristic of antique utilitarian copperware that has survived generations of use. The body incorporates decorative panels and restrained engraved ornamentation, while the fluting, shaped neck and pronounced lid give the ewer a particularly sculptural quality. Its construction and proportions relate closely to Ottoman metalworking traditions found throughout Anatolia during the 19th century. Comparable surviving examples employ hand-hammered tinned copper, bulbous bodies, curved spouts, serpentine handles and hinged domed lids. Historically, vessels of this general type were made for the storage and pouring of water and other liquids. Today, its tall 16-inch height and exceptionally long spout make this example particularly effective as a decorative object. It would display beautifully on a console, pedestal, library shelf or alongside a collection of Islamic and Ottoman metalwork. The piece is preserved in original antique
