The split‑leaf palmette motifs found on this dish became a pervasive design element within the imperial Ottoman workshop. Most likely inspired by Persian manuscript illumination, Ottoman artists creatively adapted this motif for their works in other media, such as ceramics and metalwork.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Dish with Split-Leaf Palmette Design
Date:ca. 1625–50
Geography:Attributed to Turkey, Iznik
Medium:Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions:H. 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm) Diam. of rim: 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
Classification:Ceramics
Credit Line:Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1966
Accession Number:66.4.13
Dish
Arthur Lane has stated in Later Islamic Pottery[1] that "the pottery vessels made [in Iznik] from about 1555 onwards must be regarded as a by-product of the tile industry." This dish illustrates and strongly confirms his statement.
Similar bold arabesque designs silhouetted on colored backgrounds can be found on tiles made in Iznik during the second half of the sixteenth century. On the tiles, the strong and at times clumsy arabesque designs have room to breathe and at a distance serve their function well as a border or spandrel decoration. It must be admitted that such a design is less succesful on a space as confined as the interior of this dish.
Fernand Adda Collection, Egypt (by 1959–65; sale, Palais Galliéra, Paris,December 3, 1965, no. 871, to Marthe Baschet for MMA)
Berlin. Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the M.M.A.," June 15, 1981–August 8, 1981, no. 103.
Washington. National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. "The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent," January 25–May 17, 1987, no. 200.
Chicago. Art Institute of Chicago. "The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent," June 14–September 7, 1987, no. 200.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent," October 4, 1987–January 17, 1988, no. 200.
The Hagop Kevorkian Special Exhibitions Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Flowers and Leaves: The Ottoman Pottery of Iznik," September 25, 1991–November 15, 1992, no catalogue.
Rackham, Bernard. "Illustrated Catalogue of a Private Collection [Adda]." In Islamic Pottery and Italian Maiolica. London: Faber and Faber, 1959. no. 184, p. 44, ill. pl. 80C.
"Paris, December 3, 1965." In Collection d'un Grand Amateur (Adda). Paris, December 3, 1965. no. 871.
"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no. 103, pp. 246–47, ill. (color).
Atil, Esin. The Age of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. Washington, DC: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987. no. 200, pp. 274–75, ill. (color).
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