Sırlı Küp (Turkish Glazed Jar - Large)

This large "green-glazed" küp was likely used for wine, water, goat's milk, or cheese by generations of families in the Levant. The phosphorescent green glaze, a traditional techniqu...

This large "green-glazed" küp was likely used for wine, water, goat's milk, or cheese by generations of families in the Levant. The phosphorescent green glaze, a traditional techniqu...

This large "green-glazed" küp was likely used for wine, water, goat's milk, or cheese by generations of families in the Levant. The phosphorescent green glaze, a traditional techniqu...

This medium glazed 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, a traditional technique on pottery wheels in Konya and Isparta, is as functional as it is beautiful. The glaze provides a protective and hygienic layer, making these objects optimal vessels for storing food staples and preserving delicacies. 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...