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$2,500
An impressive mid-19th-century Middle Eastern tinned copper water ewer, circa 1850, distinguished by its monumental scale, hand-worked surface and beautifully aged metalwork. Standing 22.5 inches high, this substantial antique vessel was traditionally fashioned from heavy copper using hand-hammering and hand-tooling techniques. Its generous rounded body rises into an elongated neck and is complemented by a substantial riveted brass handle, creating a strong sculptural silhouette characteristic of utilitarian metal vessels produced throughout Persia and the broader Middle East during the 19th century. The surface displays the subtle irregularities and hammer marks inherent to hand-worked copper, giving the piece an appealing tactile quality and emphasizing its artisanal construction. The copper has been professionally polished and restored, allowing the warm metallic character of the vessel to emerge while retaining evidence of age and traditional craftsmanship. Originally conceived as a functional water vessel, today it has considerable presence as a decorative Islamic metalwork object. Its unusually large proportions make it particularly effective displayed on the floor, on a substantial console or pedestal, beside a fireplace, or incorporated into a collection of antique Middle Eastern and Islamic decorative arts. The restrained form also allows the ewer to work particularly well in sophisticated contemporary interiors. It would complement Mediterranean, Moorish, Persian, Spanish Colonial, Middle Eastern, Islamic and eclectic interiors, where the warmth of antique copper can provide an important counterpoint to stone, plaster, aged woods and neutral textiles. Beyond its decorative appeal, the vessel represents a traditional form of Middle Eastern domestic metalwork in which everyday objects were created with considerable attention to proportion, material and craftsmanship. A handsome and substantial antique object with both architectural presence and historical character, particularly attractive for collectors of Persian copperware, Islamic metalwork and 19th-century Middle Eastern decorative arts.
