This medium glazed and limewashed küp was likely used to store cheese by generations of families in the Levant. The design is similar to jugs used to carry water, wine, or other liquids (as cheese is traditionally stored in its brine). Glazing and lime-washing are techniques that has been used for centuries by Anatolian ceramicists to refresh, seal, and protect a clay vessel.
Cheese is a staple in most Turkish breakfasts today, with a fascinating history springing from the Fertile Crescent: the region of Southwest Asia that includes portions of present-day Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Around 8000 BCE, the first humans to keep livestock began firing pottery that could store dairy products in the warm climate. In this process, they discovered that they could use ceramic strainers...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Greco Roman Limed Decorative Objects
MaterialsCeramic, Terracotta