An Iznik Polychrome Dish, Turkey, circa 1580

of circular form on a broad low foot, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, viridian green and relief red with a peacock and quail amongst floral stems, the border with a stylised breaking wave pattern, the reverse with paired flowers and rosettes, the underside with a black outline drawing of a bird and a harpy perched on a flower

Couleurs d'Orient, Brussels, 2010

Turkophilia, Paris, 2011

Brussels 2010, p.26

Paris 2011, p.47

In general good condition, break to one edge with some restoration including overpainting, repainting of relief red collar of peacock and one relief red spot on its tail, very few and minor cracks along outer rim, 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."

The peacock with its dotted tail feathers is reminiscent of other depictions of these birds on Iznik pottery. A dish in the Gulbenkian Museum sports a bird climbing a flowering stem in a similarly precarious manner (Ribeiro 1996, p.256-7, no.93).  An Iznik dish in the Louvre of the so-called 'Damascus' group has another closely related bird and shows that the manner had been evolved by the second quarter of the sixteenth century (Paris 1989, p.160, no.131). A tile sold through these rooms bears a design of a bird amongst flowers and saz leaves which must be a near contemporary to that on the present dish (26th April 1982, lot 264, illustrated in Frankfurt 1985, p.31, Abb.18).