Ewer thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Ewer

1640 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Most 17th century Swiss tin-glazed earthenware was used for building tiled stoves. But the material was so adaptable that other forms were produced. The prototype for this pot was probably a metal water carrier with rope handle. The piece bears a clever biblical quotation about drinking water.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware
Brief description
Tin-glazed earthenware painted in colours with an inscription in old Swiss German based on Isaiah, chapter 55. Swiss (Winterthur), dated 1640
Physical description
Tin-glazed earthenware ewer painted in colours.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Wer swassers trinckt das Christus gibt, Den wirdt Ewigklich dursten nit. IESAIA.AM.55.CAP, 1640' (The text is based on Isaiah 55: O, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters...)
Gallery label
Ewer with an inscription based on Isaiah, chapter 55, Switzerland (Winterthur), dated 1640 1942-1855(2010 (TAB))
Credit line
Bought
Summary
Most 17th century Swiss tin-glazed earthenware was used for building tiled stoves. But the material was so adaptable that other forms were produced. The prototype for this pot was probably a metal water carrier with rope handle. The piece bears a clever biblical quotation about drinking water.
Bibliographic references
  • Hildyard, Robin. European Ceramics. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 185177260X
  • Winterthurer Keramik, exhibition catalogue, Winterthur, 1989
Collection
Accession number
1942-1855

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Record createdNovember 22, 2002
Record URL
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