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Albarello, or storage jar, with tear-drop shapes
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Description
Dated to the early 1200s, this small jar is one of the earliest known ceramic examples of an albarello, or storage jar. In the medieval and early modern periods this form became popular beyond the Muslim world, particularly in Spain and Italy. Albarelli were primarily used to store herbs and other substances used for medical purposes.
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Details
- Associated place
- Date
- early 13th century
- Material and technique
- fritware, with painting in black under a turquoise glaze
- Dimensions
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21.3 cm (height)
12.5 cm (diameter)
at mouth 8.7 cm (diameter)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
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container › vessel › jar › apothecary-jar › albarello,
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Presented by Sir Alan Barlow, 1956.
- Accession no.
- EA1956.178
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Further reading
Allan, James W., Islamic Ceramics, Ashmolean-Christie's Handbooks (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 1991), p. 44, illus. p. 44
Fehérvári, Géza, Islamic Pottery: A Comprehensive Study Based on the Barlow Collection (London: Faber and Faber, 1973), no. 141 on p. 110, pl. 59 a
Allan, James W., Medieval Middle Eastern Pottery (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 1971), p. 29, illus. p. 29 pl. 24
Vickers, Michael, Oliver Impey, and James Allan, From Silver to Ceramic: The Potter's Debt to Metalwork in the Graeco-Roman, Oriental and Islamic Worlds (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 1986), pl. 75
Glossary (2)
fritware, glaze
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fritware
Ceramic material composed of ground quartz and small quantities of clay and finely ground frit (frit is obtained by pouring molten glass into water).
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glaze
Vitreous coating applied to the surface of a ceramic to make it impermeable or for decorative effect.
Location
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- currently in research collection
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