Tankard

Physical description

Tankard, nephrite jade, decorated with gold wire inlay and rubies and emeralds in raised collets. The main body is decorated with three sprays of floral stems inlaid in gold; the blooms are formed of gemstone settings. The body is pot bellied in shape and has a domed lid with a gold knop that is attached to the body via a short gold chain. The handle is gold, inlaid with rubies with a gold cartouche behind on the main body. Bands of gold, inlaid with rubies run around the base and also the rim.

Place of Origin

Turkey (made)

Date

1550-1650 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Nephrite jade decorated with gold wire inlay, rubies and emeralds

Dimensions

Height: 19.7 cm

Descriptive line

Tankard with lid, nephrite jade, decorated with gold wire inlay and rubies and emeralds; Ottoman Turkey, ca. 1550-1650 with 19th century mounts.

Labels and date

1 Jade Tankard with Lid
Turkey, probably Istanbul
1550–1600 and about 1800

The tankard was a popular drinking vessel generally made of wood, leather or ceramic. After 1550, examples were made from luxury materials for use at the Ottoman court. Here grey-green jade has been inlaid with gold wire to form a design of floral sprays. The flowers are rubies and emeralds set in gold.

Later the tankard was given a new handle and other mounts, all in gold and set with more gemstones. These mounts are in the Baroque style.

Carved jade, gold, rubies and emeralds

Museum no. ME.5-2011
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Estate Duty and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2010. Purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund (with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation), The Geoffrey Akerman Bequest, the Friends of the V&A and the Salomon Oppenheimer Philanthropic Foundation [plus Art Fund logo]

Jameel Gallery
[01/11/2012-]

Materials

Gold; Ruby; Emerald; Jade

Techniques

Inlay (process)

Subjects depicted

Floral sprays

Categories

Containers; Drinking

Collection code

MES