This is one of the large hemispherical basins that are among the finest examples of Islamic pottery. They were made in Iznik, a small town in north-west Anatolia. This example illustrates the monumental size, accomplished potting and well-planned decoration for which they are admired.
The white ground of this basin is painted in four colours - blue, turquoise, sage green and purple. A stylised leaf and rosette pattern has been consigned to the foot. The walls of the basin, inside and out, have vases filled with tulips, carnations and roses arranged in rows between small cypress trees.
Physical description
Footed bowl, fritware, underglaze-painted in cobalt and turquoise blue, olive-green and manganese-purple, with decoration of floral sprays and cypress trees framed within arches inside and out.
Place of Origin
Iznik, Turkey (probably, made)
Date
1550-1555 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Fritware, underglaze polychrome painted in green, manganese and blue, glazed
Dimensions
Height: 28 cm, Diameter: 43.2 cm
Descriptive line
Fritware basin with floral sprays and cypress trees, Turkey (probably Iznik), 1550-1555.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Atasoy, Nurhan & Raby, Julian, Iznik: the pottery of Ottoman Turkey (London, 1989): plate 243, p.139
A Grand Design (London: V&A Publications, 1997): cat.no.100
Exhibition History
Precious: Objects and Changing Values (The Millennium Galleries, Sheffield 02/04/2001-24/06/2001)
A Grand Design - The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum (Victoria and Albert Museum 12/10/1999-16/01/2000)
Labels and date
Basin with Flowers and Cypresses
Turkey, probably Iznik
1550-5
This basin, like that on the left, was painted in four colours - blue, turquoise, sage-green and purple - on a white ground. The stylised leaf and rosette pattern has been consigned to the foot. The walls of the basin, inside and out, have vases filled with tulips, carnations and roses arranged in rows between small cypress trees.
Fritware painted under the glaze
Museum no. 242-1876 [Jameel Gallery]
Materials
Fritware
Techniques
Painted; Thrown; Underglazing
Subjects depicted
Roses; Carnations; Tulips; Floral sprays; Arches; Cypress trees
Categories
Islam; Ceramics
Collection code
MES
