OTTOMAN TURKEY, CIRCA 1590

This is an extremely rare form of Iznik vase, where the shoulder has been pierced for single blooms. One published example was formerly in the Godman collection; of almost identical form to the present vase, it is decorated with carnations encircled by saz leaves (Arthur Lane, Later Islamic Pottery, London, 1957, fig.41A, also discussed pp.58, 60 and 114-115; Türkische Kunst und Kultur aus osmanischer Zeit, exhibition catalogue, Recklinghausen, 1985, vol.2, no, p.155). A further example is in the British Museum (J. M. Rogers, Islamic Art and Design, London, 1983, no.131, not illustrated). The Godman vase has a mark on the base in the form of an S intersected by a T, a mark that is usually found on majolica. Lane concluded that it was probable that such pieces were conceived for export to Italy. He notes that he was aware of only four vases of this design. One, which retains its original lid, in the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Dresden (Kurt Erdmann, 'Neue Arbeiten zur Türkischen Keramik', Ars Orientalis, Vol. V, 1963, Tafel 18, Abb. 58).