A rare and important Iznik polychrome pottery border tile, Turkey, circa 1530-40

Ex-private collection, Ville d’Avray, France

Tiles of the same design as the present lot are found in the Sunnet Odasi (Circumcision Room) of the Topkapi Palace. The Sunnet Odasi was constructed in the seventeenth century by Sultan Ibrahim (r.1640-48) but the Sultan retained many sixteenth century Iznik tiles from other settings in its decoration, evoking nostalgia for the golden age of the Ottoman era.

Another border tile with the same design as the present lot is in the Musée du Louvre (inv. no.AD 7032). Further tiles related to this group include hexagonal, white-ground tiles (see, for example, Metropolitan Museum of Art, acc. no.40.181.11, and Christie’s, London, 25 June 2020, lot 134), as well as a white-ground border tile sold in these rooms, 25 October 2023, lot 146. These tiles demonstrate the same distinctive features, including cobalt blue and turquoise floral motifs and saz leaves.