AN IZNIK POTTERY DISH WITH ARABESQUE AND FLORAL DECORATION
Ottoman Turkey, ca. 1570 - 1590

Of shallow rounded shape, resting on a short circular foot, rising to a gently everted flattened rim, painted in bole red in relief, cobalt blue and copper green in black outlines against a white ground, the interior decorated with a central floral composition with four tulips (lale) and two sprays of red plum blossoms (karayemiş) stemming from a tuft of green and blue grass, in the middle a red cusped cartouche filled with a vegetal arabesque-like motif outlined in green, the rim decorated with a stylised wave and rock design, the exterior with green and blue spiralling roundels against plain white ground, 28.8cm diam.