A RARE OTTOMAN 'MILETUS' WARE POTTERY BOWL, TURKEY, 14TH/15TH CENTURY |

slip-decorated earthenware body with dark and lighter blue, mauve, the foliate stylised designs against a cream ground, fragments reconstructed into bowl with infill, underside of foot handwritten 'Miletos ware, see page 142, The Iznik Tile, Kiln Excavation, 1981-88'

The bowl reconstructed from fragments with about 60% infill,breaks to foot visible, 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 type of pottery, a pre-curser to Iznik ceramics, came to be known as 'Miletus' because examples were first excavated in the ancient town of Miletus in South-West Turkey, but have subsequently also been found in Iznik (Carswell 1998, p.29). Further examples of this type of rare pottery are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, inv. nos. C.17-1982 and inv. no. 792-1905.