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Tile with Grape Cluster
Ottoman dynasty (1299–1923), 16th/17th century
- Medium
- Fritware with polychrome painting under transparent glaze
- Classification
- Architectural fragment
- Dimensions
- 26.2 × 25.7 × 2.2 cm (10 5/16 × 10 1/8 × 7/8 in.)
- Culture
- Turkey
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of Asia
- Credit line
- Edward G.Uihlein Fund
- Rights
- Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Little Ones profiles and older: it shows gentle subjects for the very young. How works are placed
View at the Art Institute of Chicago
About this work
This tile featuring a central grape motif amid floral and vegetal sprays belongs to group of ceramics known as Damascus or Syrian ware, which are closely related to Iznik ceramics. These wares were produced in Damascus in the mid-16th century after the Ottoman sultan, Suleyman the Magnificent, sent Iznik potters to repair and restore tilework at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. After refurbishing the tilework, these artisans settled in Damascus, where they continued to produce tiles and vessels. The objects produced bear a superficial resemblance to Iznik wares, particularly in color scheme. However, they do not use the tomato red so typical of Iznik pottery, and they introduced the use of grass-green purple.
Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0
