martevaan, noun

/ˈmɑːtəvɑːn/
Forms:
Also martavaan, and with initial capital.
Plurals:
martevaans, martevanen/ˈmɑːtəvɑːnən/.
Origin:
DutchShow more Dutch, adaptation of Martaban, see quotation 1965.
A large glazed earthenware jar, used in the past on Dutch East India Company ships to store oil and wine. Also attributive.
Note:
Elsewhere called ‘martaban’, ‘mortaban’, or ‘mortivan’.
[1698 J. Fryer New Acct of E. India & Persia 180An huge Heap of long Jars like Mortivans.]
[1711 C. Lockyer Acct of Trade in India 3535 Mortivan and small Jars.]
1963 W. Fehr Treasures at Castle of G.H.A selection of large and small ‘Martevanen’ or ‘Voorraadspotten’ dating to the Ming Period..came to the Cape from Batavia.
1965 A. Gordon-Brown S. Afr. Heritage II. 13Martavanen were large earthenware jars of Chinese origin used on board Dutch East Indiamen for carrying oil and wine. They were mostly shipped from Pegu in the Gulf of Martaban, Burma, of which the name is a corruption.
1968 M. Muller Green Peaches Ripen 24She lifted a heavy brown jar and lovingly polished its bright glaze. ‘Look at this martavanen jar, Anna. It dates back to the Ming period.’
1973 Cape Times 26 Jan. 2A magnificent pair of Martevaans in brown glaze decorated with panels of flowers R625 the pair.
A large glazed earthenware jar, used in the past on Dutch East India Company ships to store oil and wine. Also attributive.
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16981973

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