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Lot Essay
This striking tile uses the çintamani motif to great effect. The çintamani or triple leopard spot motifs in the Far East symbolizes the three holy attributes of Buddha (Paquin, 1992, pp.104-119). The motif first appeared in Iznik ceramics from the first quarter of the 16th century, but was used more regularly on both vessels and tiles in the period between 1580-85. It became an important decorative symbol used also across other Ottoman decorative arts, and bore connotations of strength and courage (Ribeiro, 2009, p.80).
Border tiles with çintamani motif on cobalt-blue ground are associated with the decoration of the Topkapi Saray Palace, including the Hirka-i Saadet and the library of Ahmed I. Tiles of that type have sold at auction, for instance at Christie’s, London, 7 April 2011, lot 312 or more recently 23 April 2015, lot 168. A very similar tile to ours, but with red highlights where ours are turquoise was published by Paquin, 1992, p.118, no.32. That was dated to the third quarter of the 16th century. For a jug decorated with çintamani see lot 209 in the present sale.
Our tile was used as the basis for the motif of the PETAG workshop, which was founded by Heinrich Jacoby in 1911. The çintamani roundels were used as the signature of the workshop and are found woven into the design of Petag carpets. The same tile is also used on the cover of some of the firm’s marketing material. For more information on Heinrich Jacoby, and the PETAG workshop see the introduction to lots 355-358 in the sale.
Border tiles with çintamani motif on cobalt-blue ground are associated with the decoration of the Topkapi Saray Palace, including the Hirka-i Saadet and the library of Ahmed I. Tiles of that type have sold at auction, for instance at Christie’s, London, 7 April 2011, lot 312 or more recently 23 April 2015, lot 168. A very similar tile to ours, but with red highlights where ours are turquoise was published by Paquin, 1992, p.118, no.32. That was dated to the third quarter of the 16th century. For a jug decorated with çintamani see lot 209 in the present sale.
Our tile was used as the basis for the motif of the PETAG workshop, which was founded by Heinrich Jacoby in 1911. The çintamani roundels were used as the signature of the workshop and are found woven into the design of Petag carpets. The same tile is also used on the cover of some of the firm’s marketing material. For more information on Heinrich Jacoby, and the PETAG workshop see the introduction to lots 355-358 in the sale.