An Iznik polychrome pottery dish, Turkey, circa 1565

of deep rounded form with a bracketed rim, decorated in underglaze blue, red, bluish-green and black outline with tulips, hyacinth, saz leaves and other flowers emanating from a leafy tuft resting on a scalloped bracket, the rim with a breaking wave pattern, the reverse with paired tulips alternately with floral motifs

This dish displays the characteristics of the first period of Iznik vessels produced with underglaze red. In several ways, it represents a transitional phase in which the decorators of Iznik drew on established practices whilst learning how to use the red to greatest effect (Atasoy and Raby 1989, p.230). The flowers, notably the long-stemmed tulips, sway in a style that is continued from the so-called 'Damascus' dishes, a style that was in keeping with that favoured in illumination by the then court artist Kara Memi. The grassy tuft from which an array of Ottoman flowers emerge was also his invention (ibid., p.222). The grey-green of this piece was phased out after this decade to be replaced by a richer emerald green which was able to establish a more equitable colour balance with the red.