A large Iznik polychrome tankard, Turkey, circa 1580

A large Iznik polychrome tankard, Turkey, circa 1580

of pear-shaped form with an everted ring foot and a tall everted neck separated from the body by a low-raised collar, the curved handle with a small scroll at its base, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, viridian green and relief red, outlined in black, with curving feathery saz leaves forming heart-shaped motifs containing sprays of carnations, rosettes and blue crocuses, the rim and collar with bands of half-flowerheads, the handle with spotted adornments. 24.7cm. height. Estimate 15,000—25,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Robert Strauss Collection

EXHIBITED: The Unity of Islamic Art, The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1985, p.154-155, no.132.

NOTE: This piece is dated circa 1580 and belongs to the period when the so-called sealing wax red was added to the colour palette of Iznik ceramics. These tankards exemplify the production of Turkish pottery from Iznik in the final quarter of the sixteenth century and is part of what was considered the heyday of Iznik ceramic production.

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World. 01 Apr 09. London www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's