Ottoman tankard

Ottoman

V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum)

late 16th Century

This is the first example of a gem-set jade tankard to be acquired by a British public collection. It was an important type of courtly object and made when the wealth and power of the Ottoman court was at its height. In the 19th century a further set of gem-set gold mounts in an Ottoman Rococo style were applied around the foot and the rim of the lid, and the curved gold handle was added. A tankard was commonly made from wood or leather. Therefore to make a tankard in jade, an exotic material that had to be imported from Central Asia at great cost, showed the growing confidence of the Ottomon rulers in exploiting Ottoman popular culture for artistic ideas. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

• Medium: jade, emeralds, rubies & gold
• Dimensions: height: 19.7cm
• Art Fund Grant: £219693 ( Total: £477,595; Tax Remission)
• ArtFunded in: 2010
• Vendor: Private collector (through Christie's)

Provenance

HRH Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark; by descent.

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