OTTOMAN TURKEY, MID 17TH CENTURY

In the 16^th century the use of figural decoration on Iznik dishes is very rare indeed, however more playful figural pieces like the present lot came into fashion by the middle of the following century. This charming dish depicts a man wearing salvar (baggy trousers) and a short-sleeved jacket. He is playing clappers with one in each hand and most likely is intended to be a musician. A very similar dish is in the Ömer Koç Collection (Hülya Bilgi, The Ömer Koç Iznik Collection, Istanbul, 2015, p.518). Another dish with a man holding clappers was sold at Bonhams London, 2 October 2012, lot 73.