Ewer

This small ewer, probably produced around 926 AH/1520 CE, is considered an earlier example of Iznik production. It is decorated entirely in finely painted motifs consisting of white scrolling vines, large cloud bands, and stylized flowers set against a deep cobalt blue and turquoise background. This style of Iznik decoration (known ‘Baba Naqqash’) combines traditional Islamic arabesques with Chinese motifs. During the reign of Sultan Mehmed II (r. 854-886 AH/1451-81 CE), blue and white Yuan and Ming porcelains arrived into the Ottoman courts as luxury objects, which inspired both early Iznik production as well as other Ottoman decorative arts. Of hexagonal form, this ewer presents slightly rounded sides, two of which are considerably wider than the others. On one side of the body, a sloped semi-circular handle is attached to the upper part of the neck, while the spout – terminating in a floral opening - is attached to the opposing side. The handle, neck and spout were all replaced by later 13th century AH/19th century CE Ottoman silver mounts, each incised with a combination of geometric motifs. The addition of these later silver mounts highlights the importance of this blue and white ewer as a fine example of early Ottoman Iznik.