Small jug
Constantine, Algeria
National Museum of Cirta
About National Museum of Cirta, Constantine
Hegira 5th–6th century / AD 11th–12th century
4H Ce 44
Varnished ceramic.
Height 21 cm, diameter of the belly 18 cm
Hammadid (?)
Tiddis (Constantine), Algeria.
This small jug, with a small circular base, a bulging belly, low neck and large opening, is composed of several pieces glued back together, with one piece missing from the neck. The handle that links the belly and the neck is surmounted by a thumb-piece that halps to lift the receptacle. The clay paste is covered by cream-coloured slip, which is visible on the inside and outside of the lower half and on the base. Horizontal grooves in relief can be seen on the belly, under the neck and on the inside. One part of the jug is varnished in green. The lower part and base remain bare.
Given the dimensions of the jug, one supposes that it served as a kitchen utensil, used to hold milk and whey.
This small, ring-base jug with a rounded belly, short neck and wide opening has been restored. The handle is fitted with a thumb hold. The clay was covered with a cream engobe (slip) that is still visible in places. It is decorated with horizontal grooves in relief. Part of the jug has a green glaze.
The jug was brought to light from the Muslim stratigraphic layer of Tiddis (Constantine); furthermore, formal characteristics (green glaze, handle with thumb-piece) very closely resemble those of Hammadid ceramic of the Qal'at Bani Hammad.
According to the museum archives it was found in the archaeological site of Tiddis.
Berthier, A., Tiddis antique, castellum tidditanorum, Algiers, 1951.
Institut du Monde Arabe, L'Algérie en héritage, art et histoire, catalogue, Paris, 2003.
Houria Cherid "Small jug" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;dz;Mus01;13;en
Prepared by: Houria CheridHouria Cherid
Titulaire d'un magister en archéologie islamique (1992), enseignante à l'Institut d'archéologie de l'université d'Alger de 1992 à 1999, conservateur du patrimoine archéologique et historique au Musée national des antiquités de 1994 à 2002, puis conservateur en chef à partir de 2002, Houria Cherid est chef du service Labo-photo, département Animation et Documentation au Musée national des antiquités. Elle a publié de nombreux articles dans les Annales du Musée national des antiquités et prépare actuellement un doctorat en archéologie islamique.
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Maria Vlotides
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen
MWNF Working Number: AL 18
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