Lot Essay
Hexagonal blue and white tiles of this design are found on the external wall of the Sünnet Odasi (Circumcision Pavilion) at the Topkapi Saray Palace (Rogers, J.M.(ed.): The Topkapi Saray Museum, Architecture, Boston, 1988, p.45, pl.109). While only built in 1640 by Sultan Ibrahim, the facade was decorated almost entirely with tiles re-used from other original settings. Another example was sold in these Rooms 9 October 1990, lot 134, and is now in the Sadberk Hamin Museum (Altun, Ara; Carswell, John and Öney, Gönül: Turkish Tiles and Ceramics, Istanbul, 1991, no.i.47, p.36).