Tile Panel with Decoration of Composite Flowers and Serrated Leaves
c. 1570
Description
The Ottoman dynasty established the largest Islamic empire of the early modern era. At the peak of their powers in the sixteenth century, the Ottomans built numerous large architectural projects, especially in the capital city of Istanbul. Many of the projects were designed by the renowned architect Sinan. Ceramic tiles were part of his carefully planned interior and exterior decorations. Using blue, emerald green, and a bright red yielded a powerful palette visible at a distance. These colors, along with the newly developed modular square tiles, worked well for decoration that covered great expanses of wall. Larger, single tiles such as this one were used to highlight architectural elements such as doors and windows.
Dimensions
39.3 x 67.5 x 2.5 cm (15 1/2 x 26 9/16 x 1 in.)
Provenance
John Goelet, New York, NY, (by 1960), gift; to Fogg Art Museum, 1960.
Related Artworks
View MorePlaster
19th-20th centuryUnidentified cultureLight gray earthenware with mold-impressed decoration. Reportedly recovered at Lelang (also spelled Lo-lang; Korean, Naknang), near T'o-sông-ni, southwest of P'yôngyang, Korea.
1st-3rd century CEChineseStone
15th centuryFrenchMarble
12th centuryFrenchFritware painted with blue (cobalt) and luster (copper and silver) over white lead alkali glaze opacified with tin
14th centuryPersianGrey marble
3rd-4th century CEIndianLimestone
12th centuryFrenchWood
SpanishPlaster, painted gold
19th centuryAmericanLimestone
5th-6th centuryCopticBuff earthenware with lead-fluxed, turquoise glaze
KoreanLimestone
12th centuryFrench