Iznik kilns and Unidentified, probably American
Tile Decorated with a Fountain between Two Parrots
1579-1588
Scroll
- Artist: Iznik kilns
- Artist Artists: Unidentified, probably American
Tile Decorated with a Fountain between Two Parrots
1579-1588
Physical Qualities
Fritware with white, green, blue, red, and transparent glazes, 10 3/16 × 9 15/16 in. (25.8 × 25.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Blanche Adler
Object Number
1941.97
Two parrots face each other across the water fountain where they rest. The motif suggests the soul's place in paradise, with the fountain representing paradise and the birds symbolizing the human soul.
During the Ottoman Empire (1299-1922), Iznik kilns in present-day Turkiye produced vast quantities of tiles for palaces, mosques, and tombs. This fritware tile was based on imported Chinese porcelain vessels, but Iznik potters used different different [sic] methods to produce it The process of adding different enamel colors in steps, then galzing, and firing multiple times resulted in the tile's intensely clear colors. Around 1560, the Iznik kilns developed the distinctive red from a mixture of red clay and iron oxide applied in a thick later under the glaze.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by bequest, 1941; Blanche Adler, Baltimore
[Asian Refresh]
Asian Gallery Rotations 2023
Asian Rotations 2024
Asian Rotations 2025
Géza Fehérvári, "Ceramics of the Islamic World in the Tareq Rajab Museum," London: I. B. Tauris Publishers, 2000, pp. 307-316.
"Earthenware, Ceramics and Tiles at the Smithsonian Museum," Smithsonian Museum of Asian Arts, 1/20/2011 [http://islamic-arts.org/2011/smithsonian-museums-ceramic-collection/] (S1966.12)
Antonina Makarevych and Hanna Rudyk selected bibliography:
Carswell, J., Iznik Pottery, London: British Museum Press, 1998.
Denny, W. B., Gardens of Paradise: 16th century Turkish Ceramic Tile Decoration, Istanbul: Ertug & Kocabiyik, 1998.
Miller, Yu, Art of Turkish Ceramics, Leningrad: Aurora Publishing House, 1972.
Rudyk, Hanna, "Ottoman Collection in The Khanenko Museum", Chronicles-2000, 1: 95 (2013): 479-495.
Vyazmitina, M. (ed), Mystetstvo krain islamu (Art from Islamic Countries), catalogue, VUAN Museum of Art, Kyiv: All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, 1930.
"Earthenware, Ceramics and Tiles at the Smithsonian Museum," Smithsonian Museum of Asian Arts, 1/20/2011 [http://islamic-arts.org/2011/smithsonian-museums-ceramic-collection/] (S1966.12)
Antonina Makarevych and Hanna Rudyk selected bibliography:
Carswell, J., Iznik Pottery, London: British Museum Press, 1998.
Denny, W. B., Gardens of Paradise: 16th century Turkish Ceramic Tile Decoration, Istanbul: Ertug & Kocabiyik, 1998.
Miller, Yu, Art of Turkish Ceramics, Leningrad: Aurora Publishing House, 1972.
Rudyk, Hanna, "Ottoman Collection in The Khanenko Museum", Chronicles-2000, 1: 95 (2013): 479-495.
Vyazmitina, M. (ed), Mystetstvo krain islamu (Art from Islamic Countries), catalogue, VUAN Museum of Art, Kyiv: All-Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, 1930.
Artist Artists
Unidentified, probably American
2000-01-01 00:00:00–2000-01-01 00:00:00
On View at the BMA
Explore the Collection Further
