Page 207 - Loss of the VOC Retourschip Batavia, Western Australia, 1629

Ewer or spouted decanter
BA T 3035 BA T 3069
This is a finely-made. tear-drop-shaped ewer or decanter. with the spout missing. standing on a well-proportioned base (Fig. 53). The body is decorated with a band of fmely-executed engraVing. including four oval-shaped cartouches (Fig. 54) which depict natwalisiic scenes. surrOlUlded by asymmetrical bandoff6liage. fruit and cherubs (Fig. 56). There is aholeon the mid-body where th~missing spout would have fitted. A spoutBA T3069 was found on the site. near where the ewer was found. and this may belong to it
One of the most interesting features of the ewer are the cartcuches. one of which shows a Moorish figure. possibly a servant. bearing a similar e;"er OD a basin (Fig. 55). Seated in front ar'him is a more elegantly-dressed figure holding a towel or cloth. and this scene pOssibly depicts the washing'of hands prior to eating. The engraving is thus exactly as Pelsaert had recommended. It is not clear if the scenes in the other cartouches are representative of the other objects belonging to this silver set; forexarnple. one cartouche (Fig. 57) shows a similar scene. with the servant this time bearing a bowl with a covered lid. which might well be for food. The whole group of illustrations suggests the hand-washing ceremony. or lustration. carried out by Muslims prior to ealing. There were fragments of other ewers found on the site. a neck fragment (BAT 3245) and a spout (BAT 3059). not illustrated.
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