Water Vessel
17th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Highly-polished earthenware vessels from Tonalá were not only admired by the colonial settlers but exported to Europe in quantities from the early 17th century. The fashion for bùcaros de Indias (aromatic earthenware from Latin America) is well recorded in accounts and Spanish still-life paintings of the period. The vessels were celebrated for their fine and fragrant clay body, which infused a delicate flavour to the water contained within them. Fashionable Spanish ladies were known to eat small fragments of the bùcaros to benefit from certain gastronomic qualities. The aroma could be enhanced by storing the absorbent clay vessels in boxes scented with spices and oils.
Large, dimpled vessels were used to store water. The increased surface area aided evaporation through the thin walls of the unglazed clay. This served to humidify the hot and dry Spanish air. The process also cooled the remaining liquid and released the celebrated aroma of the clay.
Large, dimpled vessels were used to store water. The increased surface area aided evaporation through the thin walls of the unglazed clay. This served to humidify the hot and dry Spanish air. The process also cooled the remaining liquid and released the celebrated aroma of the clay.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Red earthenware, burnished |
Brief description | Water vessel (Búcaro), red earthenware, Tonalá, Mexico, 17th century |
Physical description | Water vessel (Búcaro), one of a pair. Red, burnished earthenware, with small mouth, the body indented and tapering down into a thin stem with expanded foot. |
Dimensions |
|
Gallery label | Water cooling jar
1600-1700
This jar was made in Mexico, then under Spanish rule, for export to Europe. Such red earthenwares were fashionable in Spain, where they were often used to serve water alongside chocolate, another export from South America. Spain’s territorial claims in the 17th century extended from South America and the southern parts of North America to the Philippines in South-East Asia.
Mexico (Tonalá)
Burnished earthenware(09.12.2015) |
Object history | One of a pair with 286-1872. Bought from Señor Riano, Madrid for £1 5s. for the pair. |
Historical context | Large, dimpled vessels were used to store water. The increased surface area aided evaporation through the thin walls of the unglazed clay. This served to humidify the hot and dry Spanish air. The process also cooled the remaining liquid and released the celebrated aroma of the clay. |
Summary | Highly-polished earthenware vessels from Tonalá were not only admired by the colonial settlers but exported to Europe in quantities from the early 17th century. The fashion for bùcaros de Indias (aromatic earthenware from Latin America) is well recorded in accounts and Spanish still-life paintings of the period. The vessels were celebrated for their fine and fragrant clay body, which infused a delicate flavour to the water contained within them. Fashionable Spanish ladies were known to eat small fragments of the bùcaros to benefit from certain gastronomic qualities. The aroma could be enhanced by storing the absorbent clay vessels in boxes scented with spices and oils. Large, dimpled vessels were used to store water. The increased surface area aided evaporation through the thin walls of the unglazed clay. This served to humidify the hot and dry Spanish air. The process also cooled the remaining liquid and released the celebrated aroma of the clay. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 286A-1872 |
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Record created | November 3, 2006 |
Record URL |
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