Pitcher in the shape of a Bactrian camel (the Anatolian variant, with one hump). Glazed earthenware from Çanakkale, late 19th – early 20th century.

Regarding ceramics from Çanakkale:
Çanakkale is a town on the Asian coast of the Dardanelles (or Hellespont) at their narrowest point. Çanakkale was an Ottoman fortress called Sultaniye kalesi (Fortress of the Sultan). It later became known for its pottery, hence the later name Çanak kalesi = ‘Pot fortress’ (from the words çanak = ceramic bowl and kale = fortress) or ‘Çanakkale’.
Çanakkale ceramics from late 17th to 20th century attest that the city was one of the most important centres of ceramic production during Ottoman Empire, running in parallel to the Kütahya pottery industry. Çanakkale ceramics gained popularity in 18th and 19th centuries, and benefiting from the city’s geographical location on the water passage of all commercial and naval ships, became widely known as souvenirs and gift articles, often with a curious design. Another particularity, common practise in Çanakkale potteries, is the painting over the glaze (instead of underglaze, as was done in Kütahya).

In Çanakkale the production was mainly plates, bowls, jugs, pitchers and vases (up to now, no wall tiles have been found). Broad 18th century plates with skilful and varied designs, including ships, buildings, ibrik, and simple geometric and plant motives, belong to the finest ceramics ever made in Çanakkale. Apart from these, along with the use of various techniques in production and ornamentation, there was a huge variety of ceramic vessels of all kind which were immediately recognizable by their bulbous bodies, bright splashing colours, long narrow necks terminating in beak-shaped or animal-head mouths, lids with lions, birds, cats, horses and various other animals, superficially applied ornamentation with floral rosettes, garlands, plaque-like gilded eagle figures, candleholders, leaves, seashells, roses, hyacinth bouquets and other flowers. All these constitute the magical (or: strange) world of Çanakkale ceramics.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Website of ‘ceramopolis.com’.