Description:

A FIGURAL IZNIK POTTERY DISH, OTTOMAN TURKEY, CIRCA 1630

Iznik, Ottoman Empire, early 17th century

Description:
A rare and visually engaging dish painted in underglaze cobalt blue, green, and black on a white fritware body, featuring a central figural motif—likely a stylised human figure or possibly a dervish or courtly figure—standing amid scrolling vegetal forms or a symbolic landscape. The composition is framed within a simple foliate or geometric border around the rim. Figural imagery in Iznik pottery is notably scarce, and this example displays the characteristic looseness and whimsical charm of later Iznik production.

The colours remain vibrant, with excellent contrast between the inky blue and fresh green, while the slightly irregular drawing style reflects the aesthetic shift in the 17th century toward more expressive, less rigid forms. The reverse is painted with simple motifs around the footring.

Diameter: 26cm

Provenance:
From a Single-Owner Collection (Lots 100–109)

Comparable examples:

  • A rare figural Iznik dish depicting a standing figure, circa 1620–1630, sold at Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 31 March 2021, Lot 102, for £81,250.

  • An Iznik figural dish featuring a dancing dervish, circa 1630, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 25 October 2018, Lot 61, for £75,000.

  • A similar dish with a central human figure and scrolling foliage, circa 1625–35, sold at Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 23 October 2018, Lot 95, for £68,750.

Note:
While floral and geometric designs dominate Iznik ceramics, figural imagery—especially full-length depictions—is exceptionally rare and highly prized. These works may have been produced for elite patrons or intended as conversation pieces within courtly or urban households. The playful yet dignified rendering of the figure in this dish speaks to the variety and occasional experimentation found in the later years of the Iznik tradition.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000