Description:

AN IZNIK POTTERY DISH, OTTOMAN TURKEY, CIRCA 1575
Iznik, Ottoman Empire, third quarter of the 16th century

Description:
A well-balanced ceramic dish with a broad, sloping rim and shallow cavetto, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and turquoise on a white fritware body. The central field features a stylised floral spray composed of tulips, carnations, and rosettes, elegantly arranged around a central leafy stem. The design is characteristic of classical Iznik production, where floral motifs were stylised yet symmetrical, embodying the aesthetic ideals of the Ottoman court.

The rim is framed by a continuous wave-and-rock (breaking wave) border, a typical decorative device of the period. The reverse is similarly adorned with scrolling motifs in cobalt blue. The glaze is glossy and even, and the painting demonstrates a high level of precision and control, typical of pieces produced during the peak of Iznik craftsmanship.

Diameter: 29cm

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

Comparable examples:

  • A closely related Iznik dish with tulip and carnation spray, circa 1575, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 28 October 2021, Lot 52, for £92,500.

  • A dish featuring similar motifs and palette, dated circa 1570–75, sold at Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 1 May 2019, Lot 130, for £86,250.

  • An Iznik dish with a comparable floral arrangement and wave border, third quarter of the 16th century, sold at Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 11 June 2018, Lot 108, for £78,750.

Note:
This dish reflects the height of Iznik ceramic production, when the balance of form, decoration, and technical quality was at its zenith. The floral motifs and harmonious palette exemplify the imperial aesthetic of the mid to late 16th century, and pieces such as this were often intended for use in elite settings or as diplomatic gifts.

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

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