On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Ibreeq

Drinking Vessel
1980 (made)
Artist/Maker
El Nigoumi, Siddig (maker)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

The work of Siddig El Nigoumi is infused with African, Arabic and British influences. Born in The Sudan in 1931, Siddig followed a two-year period as a calligrapher by enrolling at the School of Art in Khartoum. It was there that he began to specialise in pottery. In 1957 he travelled to London to study ceramics at the Central School of Art. In 1967 he settled permanently in England. Siddig popularised the use of traditional African pottery techniques within British studio ceramics. His pots were handbuilt, their surfaces burnished by polishing with a stone or similar tool, and left unglazed. This vessel was purchased from an exhibition of jugs organised by the Craftsmen Potters Association (now the Craft Potters Association) in 1980. 'Ibreeq' is an Arabic word for jug.

Object details

Categories
Studio Pottery
Images Online
Black History
Object type
Drinking vessel
TitleIbreeq (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Earthenware, unglazed burnished clay, incised decoration
Earthenware
Brief description
Drinking vessel by Siddig El Nigoumi, earthenware, Britain, 1980.
Physical description
Drinking vessel Earthenware, unglazed burnished clay with incised decoration in the form of a two spouted vessel on four feet
Dimensions
  • Depth: 20.50cm
  • Height: 22.40cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Nigoumi 80'and a scorpion, incised
Gallery label
(2021)
Design and the diaspora

As a consequence of empire, people have moved between countries. Often expressed in creative practice, designers draw on influences from their birthplace, family heritage and the places they call home. From the 1970s onwards, the Sudanese-born, UK based ceramicist Siddig El Nigoumi popularised ancient African and Arabic pottery techniques like unglazed, burnished clay in British studio ceramics. And similarly, in the post-war years, Joaquim Tenreiro, who came from a Portuguese family of woodworkers, forged a new style of furniture design in his adopted country, Brazil. Using indigenous woods and traditional making techniques, his designs were suited to the South American climate and lifestyle.

Two-spouted water vessel
‘Ibreeq’ (jug), 1980
Designed and made by Siddig El Nigoumi, UK
Hand-built earthenware, unglazed and burnished clay with incised decoration
Museum no. C.56-1980

Rocking chaise longue
About 1947
Designed by Joaquim Albuquerque Tenreiro
Manufactured by Langenbach & Tenreiro, Brazil
Rosewood and woven cane
Given by Vanishing Points Gallery, London
Museum no. W.6:1 and 3-2014

The object sits in the 'Crisis and Conflict' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.
Jug (ibreeq)
Siddig El Nigoumi (1931-96)
Great Britain
1980

The work of Siddig El Nigoumi is infused with African, Arabic and British influences. Siddig popularised the use of traditional African pottery techniques within British studio ceramics. His pots were handbuilt, their surfaces burnished by polishing with a stone or similar tool and left unglazed.

Earthenware, unglazed burnished clay, incised decoration

Museum no. C.56-1980
Bought by the V&A
Object history
Acquisition details: CPA, London 'Jugs' exhibition, 1980
Summary
The work of Siddig El Nigoumi is infused with African, Arabic and British influences. Born in The Sudan in 1931, Siddig followed a two-year period as a calligrapher by enrolling at the School of Art in Khartoum. It was there that he began to specialise in pottery. In 1957 he travelled to London to study ceramics at the Central School of Art. In 1967 he settled permanently in England. Siddig popularised the use of traditional African pottery techniques within British studio ceramics. His pots were handbuilt, their surfaces burnished by polishing with a stone or similar tool, and left unglazed. This vessel was purchased from an exhibition of jugs organised by the Craftsmen Potters Association (now the Craft Potters Association) in 1980. 'Ibreeq' is an Arabic word for jug.
Bibliographic reference
Watson, Oliver. British Studio Pottery : the Victoria and Albert Museum Collection, Oxford : Phaidon, Christie's, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.56-1980

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Record createdJanuary 14, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O19300/ibreeq-drinking-vessel-el--nigoumi/
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