ISLAMIC, INDIAN ART & JEWELS
Lot 104:
Description
This finely painted Iznik pottery tankard is a rare surviving example of Ottoman ceramic drinking vessels produced around 1600. Cylindrical in form with a slightly flaring rim, the tankard features its characteristic angular double-tiered handle, decorated with bold black strokes that echo early Iznik calligraphic flourishes.
The body is adorned with a lively arrangement of stylised tulips, carnations, and saz leaves—hallmarks of the “quatre-couleurs” palette—rendered in vibrant shades of cobalt blue, turquoise, bole red, and black outlines on a luminous white slip ground. The floral stems rise gracefully around the body, framed by a geometric border at the foot and a scrolling wave motif encircling the rim.
The interior is glazed and the underside left plain, showing the typical potting and firing characteristics of Iznik wares of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Minor wear, small glaze imperfections, and areas of age-related surface cracking are consistent with use and period.
A charming and authentic piece of classical Iznik production, this tankard demonstrates the refined artistry and distinctively Ottoman aesthetics that define the finest ceramics of the era.
H: 19.5cm
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