Caption

Waterskin matara, Ottoman Turkey, 2nd half of the 16th century. Kidney-shaped leather waterskin with rounded bottom, narrow neck and small spout for drinking; height 23.0 cm, width 24.5 cm, depth 14.0 cm, weight 0.62 kg. Decorated with applied shagreen arabesques and arabesques painted in gold; one narrow side bears a protective emblem in the form of a six-pointed star Solomon’s Seal intended to ensure the water's freshness. The leather matara is a copy of gold bottles set with precious stones used at the sultan's court and may have been used during military expeditions. Only four comparable leather mataras are known worldwide., A decorative vessel with a tall narrow neck and a rounded body is shown against a plain gray background; the surface of the vessel displays ornate carved and painted patterns in a palette of green, red, orange, gold, and black with areas of worn patina, and the front features a raised tear-shaped motif and symmetrical flared panels with intricate swirling designs.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A22_348

License type

Rights managed

Available size

77.2Mb (1.6Mb) / 20.0in x 15.0in / 6000 x 4500 (300dpi)

Keywords

Waterskin matara Ottoman Turkey 2nd half 16th century Kidney-shaped leather waterskin rounded bottom narrow neck small spout drinking height 23.0 cm width 24.5 cm depth 14.0 cm weight 0.62 kg Decorated applied shagreen arabesques arabesques painted gold narrow side bears protective emblem form six-pointed star Solomon’s Seal intended ensure water's freshness leather matara copy gold bottles set precious stones sultan's court military expeditions four comparable leather mataras worldwide decorative vessel tall narrow neck rounded body shown plain gray background surface vessel displays ornate carved painted patterns palette green red orange black areas worn patina front features raised tear-shaped motif symmetrical flared panels intricate swirling designs.