Tile Panel

Iznik pottery is named after the town of Iznik, in western Anatolia (modern day Turkey), where it was initially made. The earliest evidence of Iznik production occurred during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (r. 854-886 AH/1451-81 CE), whose appreciation for fine blue and white Chinese Ming porcelains inspired him to start making similar ceramics. As such, early Iznik pottery was blue and white, and largely influenced by Chinese motifs. However, a shift occurred a century later when Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 926-974 AH/1520-1566 CE) revitalized Iznik production through his commissioning of tiles made to decorate his newly built mosque in Istanbul. Shortly thereafter, Iznik production expanded, with new forms, colours and patterns introduced. This richly decorated panel of tiles is made up of 18 different pieces arranged in vertical pairs and was probably produced between 967-977 AH/1560 - 1570 CE, a period considered to be the height of Iznik production, when new colours (such as red and green) were introduced. It is decorated with a naturalistic floral design of peonies, carnations, serrated leaves, and tulips, patterns found commonly on other Iznik vessels as well as Ottoman textiles. These tiles would have most likely decorated the interior of a mosque, and are very similar in design to those found in the Rustem Pasha Mosque, Istanbul (completed in 971 AH/1563 CE).