A lidded tureen, known as ‘Jobbana’, in which the fasting soup called ‘Harira’ is served during the Islamic ‘Ramadan’ fasting period. In other periods, these bulbous lidded vessels are used for preserving other food.
The present tureen is a beautiful example of this Moroccan ceramic: The tongued lid has a copper green spherical finial in the centre of an octagonal, blue, yellow and white decorative motif, called ‘Seal of Solomon’.
The tongue of the lid features an ornamental band of stylised geometric flowers between two all-round copper green bands. Under this, an ornamental motif shared between the lid and the vessel optically connects both parts. The vertical stripes with blue dots, separated by yellow and manganese brown stripes of equal width, are known as the ‘centipede motif’.
The lower end is marked by an all-round band of geometrically abstract carnations. The inner glazing is white.
A beautiful lidded tureen in the style of the famous pottery workshops in the city of Fez. With noticeable traces of usage and minor age-related damage; minor flaking and a very charming old original repair: two fissures along the side of the vessel have been professionally reconnected (pierced and riveted) by means of small, narrow copper strips.
18th/19th century; H: 23 cm, DM: 18.5 cm (widest point). (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Marokkanische Keramik' by Bernd Hakenjos, Christiane Ebert & Johannes Kalter, fig. 61, 63, 71.