Description
STAR OF THE "SULTANABAD" TYPE Rare tile of covering in the shape of star with eight branches. Siliceous paste engobed, moulded and painted in reserve with blue enamels under a slightly bluish glaze. Flower and foliage motifs. Fillets on the edge. Iran, 14th century D. 21 cm (Shocks, chips) RELATED WORKS The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds two examples of 14th century tiles with very similar motifs (Inv. 28.89.10 and 20.120.25) as well as the Museum Ariana in the city of Geneva (Inv. AR 12750). COMPARATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY - Anne-Claire Schumacher; Terres d'Islam, Les collections de céramique moyen-orientale du musée Ariana à Genève; 2014; pp. 110-111. In the fifteenth century, in order to supplement the supply of highly prized porcelain from China, the Ottoman sultans decided to establish a local center for the creation of fine objects for the court. This center was located in Iznik (ancient Nicea), which had a long history as a center of ceramic production. At first, Ottoman wares made in Iznik closely followed Chinese examples, with a blue and white colour scheme and Chinese motifs. Later, potters began to use a wider variety of colours, as well as designs of Ottoman origin, including tulips, carnations and a type of leaf with serrated edges known as "saz". Tiles produced in Iznik were also used to decorate important buildings in the capital city of Istanbul. Iznik's international stature as a ceramic centre developed through the patronage of the Ottoman sultans. Later, Iznik's products became more commercial with the introduction of items for everyday domestic use. Although this type of ceramic became more accessible, it was still treated with reverence: instead of being used on the table, Iznik pieces were displayed in special built-in cabinets found in most upper-class homes.
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STAR OF THE "SULTANABAD" TYPE Rare tile of covering in the shape of star with eight branches. Siliceous paste engobed, moulded and painted in reserve with blue enamels under a slightly bluish glaze. Flower and foliage motifs. Fillets on the edge. Iran, 14th century D. 21 cm (Shocks, chips) RELATED WORKS The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds two examples of 14th century tiles with very similar motifs (Inv. 28.89.10 and 20.120.25) as well as the Museum Ariana in the city of Geneva (Inv. AR 12750). COMPARATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY - Anne-Claire Schumacher; Terres d'Islam, Les collections de céramique moyen-orientale du musée Ariana à Genève; 2014; pp. 110-111. In the fifteenth century, in order to supplement the supply of highly prized porcelain from China, the Ottoman sultans decided to establish a local center for the creation of fine objects for the court. This center was located in Iznik (ancient Nicea), which had a long history as a center of ceramic production. At first, Ottoman wares made in Iznik closely followed Chinese examples, with a blue and white colour scheme and Chinese motifs. Later, potters began to use a wider variety of colours, as well as designs of Ottoman origin, including tulips, carnations and a type of leaf with serrated edges known as "saz". Tiles produced in Iznik were also used to decorate important buildings in the capital city of Istanbul. Iznik's international stature as a ceramic centre developed through the patronage of the Ottoman sultans. Later, Iznik's products became more commercial with the introduction of items for everyday domestic use. Although this type of ceramic became more accessible, it was still treated with reverence: instead of being used on the table, Iznik pieces were displayed in special built-in cabinets found in most upper-class homes.
