Turkish Iznik Tree of Life Plate

Description

A hand-made Turkish plate or dish, decorated in a classical 1550’s Iznik pattern. Ceramic, with a polychrome glaze, the flattened … more A hand-made Turkish plate or dish, decorated in a classical 1550’s Iznik pattern. Ceramic, with a polychrome glaze, the flattened dish is painted in a watery cobalt blue. A central Tree of Life blooms with red rosettes, framed with turquoise leaves and green sepals above white serrated leaves, all outlined in cobalt blue.

Originally inspired by Chinese pottery, Imperial Ware - now called Iznik, was made in the rural town of Iznik (ancient Nicea) for the Istanbul court of the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, the wealthiest monarch of the 1500’s. Iznik has survived to the present day with tiles adorning palaces and mosques. Several examples of original Iznik pottery can be seen in the British Museum. less