Description:

FIVE CONTINUOUS BLACK & TURQUOISE "DOME OF THE ROCK" POTTERY TILES, JERUSALEM, OTTOMAN PALESTINE, 16TH CENTURY
Jerusalem, Ottoman Palestine, 16th century

Description:
Fritware, underglaze-painted in cobalt blue and black with stylized floral scrollwork on a turquoise ground. This striking group of five tiles forms a continuous panel, most likely once part of the grand architectural revetments of the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary), Jerusalem. These tiles belong to the celebrated series attributed to the 16th-century Ottoman restoration of the Dome of the Rock under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The interlocking floral motifs reflect the highly stylised Ottoman aesthetic influenced by Iznik traditions, yet executed locally in Jerusalem.

Dimensions:
20 x 10.8 cm (largest)

These tiles are exceptionally rare survivals of the architectural legacy of Ottoman Palestine, valued not only for their artistry but also for their deep cultural and religious significance.

Comparable examples:

  • A set of Iznik-style tiles from the Dome of the Rock restoration, 16th century, sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, London, 25 April 2012, Lot 182, for £43,250.

  • A group of three Jerusalem architectural tiles, attributed to the Dome of the Rock, sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, London, 27 April 2017, Lot 141, for £32,500.

  • A single 16th-century turquoise and black Jerusalem tile, sold at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 26 October 2020, Lot 25, for £12,750.

Note:
Tiles from the Dome of the Rock's Suleiman-era restoration are among the most recognisable and revered elements of Islamic architectural ceramics. Their characteristic turquoise-blue backgrounds with black arabesques and stylised blossoms mark a distinct Jerusalem production influenced by Ottoman taste but locally adapted. Surviving examples are rare, often found in fragments or small groups, making a continuous section like this particularly desirable.

 

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

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
£0 £99 £5
£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