A Blue and White Iznik Pottery Tile, Turkey, circa 1530-40

With UK Trade, by 2014;

Simon Ray, London;

From whom acquired by the present collector, 4 July 2014.

This tile relates to an important group of Iznik mosaics produced around 1530 for the Circumcision Room of the Topkapi Palace, Istanbul. These tiles demonstrate the same distinctive features, including cobalt blue and turquoise floral motifs, chinese clouds and saz leaves. The latter are drawn in a style characteristic of the artist Sahkulu, the head of the nakkashane from 1526-56 under Suleyman the Magnificent (Carswell 1998, p.56). A pair of similar border tiles was sold at Sotheby's, London, 1 April 2009, lot 214, and a further tile was sold at Sotheby's, London 25 October 2023, lot 146. See also twelve identical tiles in the Louvre (inv. no.OA 7456/1 to OA 7456/12).