A blue and white Iznik bowl, Turkey, circa 1510-30

of deep-rounded form on a short foot, the interior painted in underglaze blue and turquoise with a design featuring a central flowerhead and floral vases alternating with cypress trees in the cavetto with interspersed stylised cloud scrolls, the exterior with floral stems

Broken with associated restoration and consolidation, including over-painting and some infill, over-spray, slight discoloration to surface, 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."

This bowl displays the charming naturalistic qualities of the 'Potter's style', attributed between 1535 and 1545 by Nurhan Atasoy and Julian Raby, whilst retaining a few motifs inherited from the earlier, more formal 'Baba Nakkas' style of decoration with its fleshy leaves and hooked foliage (see Atasoy and Raby 1989). A close comparison can be drawn with a bowl in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, attributed between 1500 and 1525, inv. no. 32.34. It has been suggested that the motif of the cyprus tree, drawn in an abstract manner on the present example, may function as a poetic metaphor following the established Ottoman trope of cypress as a beautiful woman (New York 2011, p.298, no.207).