OTTOMAN TURKEY, CIRCA 1570

The rimless saucer-shape of the present dish follows a Chinese form which was introduced into Ming ceramics in the early 15th century. The form began being used in Iznik pottery in the 1530s. Curiously by the second half of the 16th century, where most Iznik ceramic designs were done on a body with an everted rim, most grape dishes were produced with a rimless form, remaining faithful to their Chinese models. Like the majority of this group, our dish has a continuous scroll in the cavetto rather than the floral sprays of the earlier examples, such as in lot 304 in this sale.