This salt and/or pepper cellar in glazed fine earthenware painted in monochrome shades of blue represents a Turk sitting and holding against his hips two shells for salt and pepper. Turkish motifs are frequent in both Boch earthenware production at Septfontaines-lez-Luxembourg and at other manufactories, reflecting the love of exoticism that prevalent among high society in the 18th century as well as at other times. In the same vein, the love of chinoiseries – even more widespread than the fascination of things Turkish – finds itself expressed in various forms on European earthenware, furniture or fabrics. In the 18th century, tables at high society dinners were often decorated with small silver or ceramic figurines. In spite of its practical use as a salt cellar, the Turkish figurine is therefore as decorative as it is functional.

Text | CC BY-NC | Régis Moes