An Iznik polychrome pottery dish, Turkey, first half of 17th century

the shallow circular form decorated in underglaze red, tones of blue, turquoise and black outlines with a central partridge against a ground of stylised rocks, with a breaking wave border

Iznik production in the first half of the seventeenth century is characterised by a fashion for figural designs, including birds and animals, of which this is an unusual example.  Raby and Atasoy observe that it is in the nature of these representations to be "full of animation and charm" (Atasoy and Raby 1989, p.258).