Made to scoop and pour warm water in the bathhouse, this bowl keeps a shape the hamam has used for generations.
The hamam tası is a traditional bowl used to scoop and pour water in Turkish bathhouses. Many examples have a raised central boss, sometimes called a navel, and a tin-coated interior. The form has been made over a long period and continues to be produced today.
This bowl is formed in copper and embossed with a rosette of lobed petals radiating from the centre. Narrow recessed lines define each petal, and a repeating angular border runs around the rim. Inside, the same pattern appears in reverse, with the central boss rising upward. The exterior has been polished to bright copper, while darker patina remains in the recessed ornament.
Very good structural condition, with no dents, splits or repairs. The interior tin coating is substantially worn, with copper visible across the raised decoration.
Key Details
Origin: Turkish style; probably made in Turkey
Period: 20th century (attributed); precise date unconfirmed
Form: hamam tası (bathhouse bowl) with raised centre
Material: copper, with tin-coated interior
Technique: formed copper with embossed rosette; exact manufacturing technique unconfirmed
Marks: none
Dimensions: diameter 18.3 cm; height 5.5 cm
Weight: 230 g
Condition: very good; interior tin substantially worn
Buyer profile: collectors of Turkish and Middle Eastern metalwork, and anyone with an interest in bathhouse culture
Collector Appeal
The appeal of this bowl lies in its strongly modelled rosette, its characteristic raised centre and the contrast between polished copper and the surviving tin coating. It represents a recognisable form of Turkish bathhouse metalwork, equally interesting as a functional object and as an example of traditional decorative design.
Everyday vessels outlast the hands that use them; the customs they serve often outlast both.
