Iznik Dish with Prunus Blossoms

Iznik pottery is named after the town of Iznik, in western Anatolia (modern day Turkey), where it was initially made. It started being produced during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (r. 854-886 AH/1451-81 CE), whose appreciation for fine blue and white Chinese Ming porcelains inspired potters to start making similar ceramics. This circular dish, probably produced between 988-999 AH/1580-90 CE, shows how Iznik production expanded during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 926-974 AH/1520-66 CE), when new forms, colours and patterns were introduced, such as red and green. The introduction of fire-red in particular represents a technological innovation of Iznik potters, which first appears on tiles commissioned for Süleymaniye's Mosque (built between 957-965 AH/1550-1557 CE). The background do this dish is rather uniquely decorated with an abundance of fire-red, with prunus blossoms stemming from a single vegetal tuft, flanked by white and green tulips. The border is decorated with a fine blue band of white and red flowers.