Producer unknown to us
Coffee pot
Asia, Iraq, Baghdad
Before 1962
Tin, brass
Lothar Stein (former museum director) acquired this coffee pot during a research trip to Iraq between 1960 and 1962
Purchased by the Museum from Stein in 1962
WAs 1980
These serving pots, called “misfa,” were used by Iraqi Bedouins to make coffee in the mid-20th century. There were always at least three copper pots (“della,” see also WAs 01980 and WAs 01981) in different sizes, into which the coffee was poured until the coffee grounds had settled on the bottom of the dellal, so that the beverage could be poured into the small serving pot misfa, without any of the grounds spilling out. Finally, the coffee was poured into small porcelain bowls. Misfas were usually tin- or silver-plated on the outside. According to the merchant, this item was made in Damascus.
Lothar Stein (*1935) studied Arabic in Iraq from 1960 to 1962, during which time he conducted field research with local communities. From his time there, he brought back 280 objects he had acquired for the Leipzig museum with funds from the GDR State Secretariat of Higher and Technical Education, or items received as gifts from colleagues.
Frank Usbeck