A NEVERS FAIENCE POTTERY DISH DEPICTING AN OTTOMAN SULTAN
Nevers, France, early 19th century

Of shallow rounded shape, resting on a flat circular base, with a scalloped rim, painted in black, yellow, blue and green against white ground, decorated with concentric polychrome circles around the rim and cavetto and a portrait of an Ottoman Sultan with a tall turban in the centre, possibly inspired from a portrait engraving or painting, 23.2cm diam.

Around the time when this dish was made the ruling Sultans of the Ottoman Empire were Selim III (r. 1789 - 1807), Mustafa IV (r. 1807 - 1808), and Mahmud II (r. 1808 - 1839) consecutively. It is likely that the dish attempts to portray one of them.