Ewer
ca. 1590-1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The main decoration on this ewer is an outsized arabesque with bold blue veins in the leaves. In the 16th century, when this piece was made, the wealth of the Ottoman rulers was reflected in sumptuous decorative arts. Their bold designs rarely included human or animal figures. This feature was deliberately designed to distinguish them from those produced in Iran at this time.
This ewer was made at the small town of Iznik, near Istanbul. The Ottoman court renewed its patronage of Iznik ceramics during the construction of the Süleymaniye mosque in Istanbul in 1550 to 1557. The first Iznik tiles were produced, and potters added a bright red to the range of colours painted under the glaze. This was achieved with a slip made from a special clay.
In the following decades, tiles of high quality were decorated in red, green and tones of blue on a white ground. Dishes, bottles and other vessels had similar decoration on white or coloured grounds.
This ewer was made at the small town of Iznik, near Istanbul. The Ottoman court renewed its patronage of Iznik ceramics during the construction of the Süleymaniye mosque in Istanbul in 1550 to 1557. The first Iznik tiles were produced, and potters added a bright red to the range of colours painted under the glaze. This was achieved with a slip made from a special clay.
In the following decades, tiles of high quality were decorated in red, green and tones of blue on a white ground. Dishes, bottles and other vessels had similar decoration on white or coloured grounds.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted, glazed |
| Brief description | Jug with red band around neck and floral design on green body, Turkey (probably Iznik), ca. 1590-1600. |
| Physical description | Jug with red band around neck, floral design on green body. Turkey (probably Iznik), late 16th century. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The main decoration on this ewer is an outsized arabesque with bold blue veins in the leaves. In the 16th century, when this piece was made, the wealth of the Ottoman rulers was reflected in sumptuous decorative arts. Their bold designs rarely included human or animal figures. This feature was deliberately designed to distinguish them from those produced in Iran at this time. This ewer was made at the small town of Iznik, near Istanbul. The Ottoman court renewed its patronage of Iznik ceramics during the construction of the Süleymaniye mosque in Istanbul in 1550 to 1557. The first Iznik tiles were produced, and potters added a bright red to the range of colours painted under the glaze. This was achieved with a slip made from a special clay. In the following decades, tiles of high quality were decorated in red, green and tones of blue on a white ground. Dishes, bottles and other vessels had similar decoration on white or coloured grounds. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic reference | Ayers, John, Oriental art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: Philip Wilson, 1983.
p. 120 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1708-1855 |
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| Record created | December 3, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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