Dish

This small dish is characteristic of the fine faience ware that was produced by the Belvedere Manufactory. Founded by the Polish King Stanislaw August Poniatowski (1732–1798) on the grounds of his castle in Warsaw, the Manufactory had a short ceramic live from ca. 1770–1780s during which pieces made of faience (tin-glazed earthenware) rather than porcelain were produced. Many were decorated in a colorful style with birds, trees, floral, and architectural motifs imitating early 18th century pieces from China and Japan. At the time East Asian porcelains were preferred collectibles by the Polish and other monarchs including the Ottoman Sultans. This dish was part of a larger set of more than 200 pieces commissioned by King Stanislaw August Poniatowski as a diplomatic gift to present to the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid I (1725–1789) in 1776. Inscribed cartouches include Ottoman inscriptions, which read "Obedience and Fidelity are due to Kings" and "From the King of the Lekhs at Warsaw to the Tsar of the race of the Osman as a token of respect, this present is offered and sent". This fine dish from Poland intended for the Ottoman sultan sheds light on the complex cultural and diplomatic gift exchanges spreading across vast regions between Europe and Asia.