OTTOMAN TURKEY, CIRCA 1570

This tile is closely related to two complete panels (each of twenty-one tiles) currently on view at the Louvre (formerly in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (inv.5972 A and B; illustrated Purs Decors? Arts de l’Islam, regards du XIX siècle, exhibition catalogue, Paris, 2008, cat.102). The composition of the Louvre panels are however slightly different, and the design includes no hyacinths, as on our tile. An almost identical tile, with similar composition, and the inclusion of hyacinths (although there cropped such that only the tips are visible) is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.87.103). One very minor difference is that the border palmettes on the LACMA tile do not there have the tiny green spot between them along the upper border, as ours does. Another tile, similar but for a green faux marble border along the upper edge, is in the Çinli Kösk in Istanbul. A tile with similar equally fine drawing was sold at Christie’s, Paris, 7 March 2007, lot 115.