About the collection
The Juliet Oliver Collection
The Juliet Oliver Collection is a hand-curated selection of some of the most beautiful and historically significant pottery from Anatolia. Our pots reflect the historical richness of the Anatolian world, and each has been produced in accordance with the cultural and social structure of the region it belongs to. Browsing our collection
you will notice a difference in the way each pot is shaped, coloured and
even painted. Different soil structure and production technologies in
each region add unique character to the pots, making each one a
historically unique piece. However, the most important feature of
Anatolian pots is that they represent the cultures and lifestyles of
the regions in which they were made. The pots perfectly capture the
essence of their origins.
History
The first pottery making in Anatolia dates back to 7000 BC. The oily and soft soil used in pottery making is first turned into mud. It is then shaped, dried first in the sun and then in the shade, and finally it takes its final form by firing in ovens at 800-1200 degrees. In early periods the clay was shaped by hand, but was later shaped using a wheel system. The first documented use of the pottery wheel in Anatolia is approximately 5000 years ago in the Kayseri-BoÄŸazköy region.
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Pottery is one of the most important cultural heritages of Anatolia. Although pottery production is carried out in many regions of modern-day Anatolia, our pots predominantly range from 200-500 years old. The pots were historically very important for storing food and beverages, so have excellent durability and weather-resistance. Although the soil used in making these pots does not allow water to pass through, they provide air circulation thanks to their porous structure. Predominantly, they would have preserved products such as olives, olive oil, wine and grain. White lime stains are often seen on these pots as it was used to keep insects and pests away.
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Though our pots are sourced from across Anatolia, the regions of Izmir, Manisa, Konya, Cappadocia and Isparta have particular cultural significance due to their age. On each product page you can find information unique to that pot, including origin and use history.
Authenticity
Our pots are carefully hand-selected and collected from many different parts of Anatolia. Before arriving in England, our pots are checked one by one by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and the General Directorate of Museums and given a unique code. After the necessary approvals are obtained, all pots are sealed one by one, officially approved and transported to England.
