Early 19th Century Ottoman Copper Ewer

Centuries of use are written all over this hand-beaten copper ewer. The crimped lip, uneven seams, and riveted handle tell you it was made the old way – hammered into shape by hand, soldered where needed, and finished just enough to do the job. The green-blue bloom of verdigris sits deep in the joins and across the base, a slow patina built up over generations.
 
The form is timeless – a narrow neck for easy pouring, a long spout, and a looped handle with a pierced thumb rest. It’s the sort of vessel you’d find in Ottoman kitchens or Levantine courtyards, used for water, coffee, or ceremonial washing. Every dent, seam split, and worn edge speaks to real service, not decorative life.
 
We’d place it in the 19th century or earlier – the construction is closer to 18th-century workshop practice, but in rural settings, these methods carried on for decades. Whatever its exact birthday, it’s an honest survivor, carrying the marks of a working life you just can’t fake.
 
Condition: Good - beautiful patination in keeping with age and use
Size: L 24cm x D 12cm x H 16.5cm