Tile Panel

ca. 1580 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Tiles with this design are associated with the shrine of Eyüp, which stands just outside the walls of Istanbul. The pattern is not self-contained. It can be repeated endlessly, like a textile design. Each group of four tiles has the complete pattern, which is symmetrical on the vertical axis.

The tiles were produced at the Iznik potteries near Istanbul. The imperial 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
Parts
This object consists of 24 parts.

  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
Materials and techniques
Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted, glazed
Brief description
Panel of tiles with repeat pattern, Turkey (Iznik), around 1580.
Physical description
Panel of tiles with repeating pattern of wing-like turquoise saz leaves flanking large red leaf motifs among branches with violet-blue flowers.
Dimensions
  • Width: 119cm
  • Height: 173cm
including frame
Styles
Gallery label
  • Jameel Gallery Tiles with Repeat Pattern (above) Turkey, probably Iznik About 1580 Tiles with this design are associated with the shrine of Eyüp, which stands just outside the walls of Istanbul. The pattern is not self-contained but can be repeated endlessly, like a textile design. Each group of four tiles has the complete pattern, which is symmetrical on the vertical axis. Fritware painted under the glaze Museum no. 401-1900(Jameel Gallery)
  • TILE PANEL Fritware with polychrome underglaze painting TURKEY (made at Iznik); about 1570 Tiles of this pattern are found in the courtyard of the Shrine of Eyup Ansari at the head of the Golden Horn in Istanbul.(Used until 11/2003)
Object history
Said to be from the baths at the mosque of Eyüp Ansari in Istanbul.
Historical context
Tiles with this design are associated with the shrine of Eyüp, which stands just outside the walls of Istanbul. The pattern is not self-contained but can be repeated endlessly, like a textile design. Each group of four tiles has the complete pattern, which is symmetrical on the vertical axis. The placement of a tulip inside each of the large turquoise saz leaves is a stylistic innovation of the late 1570s.
Production
Tiles with this design are associated with the shrine of Eyüp Ansari in Istanbul.
Summary
Tiles with this design are associated with the shrine of Eyüp, which stands just outside the walls of Istanbul. The pattern is not self-contained. It can be repeated endlessly, like a textile design. Each group of four tiles has the complete pattern, which is symmetrical on the vertical axis.

The tiles were produced at the Iznik potteries near Istanbul. The imperial 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.
Bibliographic references
  • Ayers, John, Oriental art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: Philip Wilson, 1983. pp. 120-21
  • Nurhan Atasoy and Julian Raby, Iznik: The Pottery of Ottoman Turkey (London: Alexandria Press, 1989), fig. 477 (tiles from same mosque).
Collection
Accession number
401:1 to 24-1900

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Record createdFebruary 2, 2004
Record URL
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