Tray

In many respects a continuation of the decorative tradition of the fourteenth-century enameled glass plate seen in no. 91.1.1533, this late Ottoman tray, probably also produced in Syria, betrays a very similar design scheme. However, here the circles formed by the raised turquoise, coral, and glass elements are obviously practical, since they are meant to accomodate a silver coffee pot in the center and six matching cup holders, all of them in the Museum's collection. Notwithstanding its use, this tray is an excellent example of the Islamic craftsman's obligation—almost a compulsion—to create patterns (composed of circles, five-pointed stars, and lavish vegetal decoration in this case), even when the surface is ultimately hidden. It is this kind of ingenuity, immediately apparent when a cup is lifted, revealing an abundant and varied world of ornamentation underneath—that is one of the most fascinating and unique characteristics of Islamic art.