Serving Dish (Tabaq) with Vegetal and Fish-Scale Patterns
Ottoman dynasty (1299–1923), 16th century
Medium
Iznik ware, fritware with underglaze painting in blue, turquoise, red, and black on white slip
Dimensions
6 × 30.7 cm (2 3/8 × 12 1/16 in.); Diam.: 30.7 cm (12 1/16 in.)
Classification
dish (vessel)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
6762
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The central design of this dish features two opposing leaves surrounding a central three-lobed (trefoil) shape, all set against a fish-scale motif in turquoise and blue. The design of the leaves is in the so-called saz (reed) style, referring to the reed pen used by Persian and Turkish artists to create black-ink drawings. Early drawings in this style depict dragons and phoenixes in combat surrounded by blossoms and feather-like leaves. The rim of the vessel contains a classic "wave and rock" pa...
About the Artist
Islamic
Islamic art, a profound visual tradition originating in the 7th century CE, flourished across vast territories from Spain to India under Muslim rule, encompassing architecture, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork produced by diverse artisans rather than a single named master. Drawing from pre-Islamic Sasanian, Byzantine, and late antique influences, its early development under the Umayy...