VERY RARE DUTCH REDWARE SLIP-DECORATED CURFEW 1607

With two pierced smoke holes above the date 1607.

Robert Hunter, Period Designs, Yorktown, Virginia.

Milwaukee Museum of Art, Slipware Traditions, March 12-June 6, 2004, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The curved body of the fire cover has been broken into several pieces and restored back. There is some chipping along the edges and some crazing and staining overall. A 3 by 5 in section at the top of the fire cover has been broken off and restored back.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The term 'curfew' derives from the French term, couvre-feu, translated as fire cover. According to J. Seymour Lindsay, Iron and Brass Implements of the English House, p. 16, it had been the custom to keep the fire burning continuously throughout the day and night from the medieval times through the early 19th century. In order to avoid being wasteful and as a precaution for potential fires, the fire was raked at bed time and a curfew was placed over the embers to be removed in the morning. Curfews were more commonly made in sheet brass or copper and existing earthenware examples are extremely rare. A Dutch slip-decorated earthenware face-shaped fire cover, with the eyes forming the smoke holes, is illustrated in Een Overzicht, Gruuthusemuseum, Brugge, p. 83.