Turkey, Iznik, Ottoman period (1299–1922) / c. 1535–40
Large Dish with Artichokes
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Large Dish with Artichokes as ceramic (Turkey, Iznik, Ottoman period (1299–1922) · c. 1535–40).
The artichoke is actually the bud of a thistle—a flower.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as fritware with underglaze-painted design.
The museum's collection notes: Ceramic vessels and tiles produced in Iznik, Turkey, for the Ottoman court in Istanbul represented the finest Islamic ceramics. Floral and vegetal motifs are a hallmark of Iznik pottery. The center of this dish is covered in a dynamic artichoke motif interwoven with rosettes and serrated saz leaves. The artichoke design was likely inspired by luxury Italian textiles imported into the Ottoman court. The dish represents a high point of Ottoman art during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1520–66) in which European, Persian, Chinese, and Egyptian influences contributed to a distinct artistic language.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtLarge Dish with ArtichokesOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.