Large Dish with Artichokes

c. 1535–40

Turkey, Iznik, Ottoman period

(1299–1922)

Medium

fritware with underglaze-painted design

Measurements

Diameter: 36.4 cm (14 5/16 in.); Overall: 6.9 cm (2 11/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1995.17

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Location

116 Islamic

Did You Know?

The artichoke is actually the bud of a thistle—a flower.

Description

Ceramic vessels and tiles produced in Iznik, Turkey, for the Ottoman court in Istanbul represented the finest Islamic ceramics. Floral and vegetal motifs are a hallmark of Iznik pottery. The center of this dish is covered in a dynamic artichoke motif interwoven with rosettes and serrated saz leaves. The artichoke design was likely inspired by luxury Italian textiles imported into the Ottoman court. The dish represents a high point of Ottoman art during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1520–66) in which European, Persian, Chinese, and Egyptian influences contributed to a distinct artistic language.