Lot 417
  • 417

An Iznik polychrome pottery dish with cypress tree, roses, prunus and hyacinth sprays, Turkey, circa 1560-70

Estimate
25,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • ceramic
decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, green and relief red outlined in black, with a central cypress tree flanked by roses, prunus and hyacinth sprays issuing from a leafy tuft, the everted rim with stylised scrolls, alternating paired tulips and rosettes on underside

Condition

In overall good condition, minor chips to relief red with associated restoration and overpainting, the rim with some abrasion and minor chips, drill-hole to rim for hanging, one hairline crack near edge to glaze, s 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."

Catalogue Note

The cypress tree, which acts as a central balancing form in the composition, first made its appearance as a motif in Iznik in the early 1520s, notably on architectural murals, but became especially popular from the 1560s, and a number of dishes share a similar design.   

An almost identical dish is in the City Art Museum, St. Louis, inv. no. 182:51, dated to circa 1560-65, illustrated in Atasoy and Raby 1989, no.429. The Gulbenkian Museum has four dishes with cypress trees, demonstrating the variety of designs within this underlying theme (inv. no.828, 840, 843, and 850). Another comparable dish is in the The Ömer Koç Collection (Bilgi 2015, pp.130-31, no.23).