A rare Iznik blue and white chinoiserie tazza, Turkey, circa 1560-70

of deep rounded form with sloping bracketed rim, resting on a raised everted foot, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and grey-blue with a central rosette encircled by lotus palmettes entwined with a wheatsheaf motif, the cavetto with lotus stems to the interior and exterior, the rim and foot repeating the design around the central medallion

 

With breaks and associated restoration to rim and on cavetto, including some overpainting, very minor chips and abrasions to external and internal edge of rim, scratches to interior consistent with age and use, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This majestic tazza, finding its origin of design in early-fifteenth-century Ming dishes such as the one in the collection of the Topkapi Saray (Krahl 1986, p.513, no.602), illustrates the fascination with early Chinese blue and white porcelains amongst the potters and patrons of Iznik. Chinese-inspired designs painted in a grey-blue colour were particularly popular on the tazza form and similar examples are now in important museum collections. A tazza in the David Collection, Copenhagen (inv. no. 27/1978) exhibits the same pattern of interconnected foliate bands and lotus blossoms around a central rosette.