Plate

Object Details

• Description

  Plate with foliate rim; decorated with a floral spray in the center, floral sprays in the cavetto, wave and foam pattern on rim.

  Paste: off-white.

  Glaze: transparent.

  Decoration: underglaze painted in blue.

• Provenance

  ?-1976

  Unidentified collector, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1976

  Sale, Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd., London, UK, “Fine Persian and Islamic Works of Art,” November 15, 1976, lot 97 [2]

  1976-1977

  Bluett and Sons, Ltd., London, UK, purchased at November 15, 1976 Christie, Manson & Woods sale, London, UK [3]

  From 1977

  National Musuem of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from Bluett and Sons, Ltd., London, UK [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd., “Fine Persian, Syrian and Abbasid Pottery, Fine Isnik Pottery and an early Blue and White Dish, Fine Persian and Indian Enamel and a Zand Gold Enamel Jambiya, a Fine Persian Silk and Metal Thread Brocade Panel, Fine Islamic Metalwork and Fine Persian Lacquer Ware,”[auction catalogue] (London, November 15, 1976), lot 97. The object is labeled as “The Property of a Lady” and described as “An important Isnik blue and white deep dish with scalloped rim, the interior painted in early Ming style with scrolling leafy vine enclosing and producing lobed and multi-petalled palmettes, the well and exterior with alternating palmettes framed by trefoil and plain leaves, the rim with swirling and breaking waves, in two shades of blue on a white ground (small chips on rim)—15in. (39cm.) diam., second quarter of the 16th century. A similar piece is in the British Museum.” A color photo of the object is included.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1. See also object file for letter, with enclosure, from Roger Bluett to H. P. Stern, dated November 19, 1976. Bluett wrote, “I am disappointed that we were not able to follow up the successful purchase of the Isnik dish by buying the Royal Ottoman manuscript.” The enclosure lists the description for lot 97 of Christie’s November 15, 1976 sale, with the certifying statement “We hereby certify that the item described above is of the period stated and therefore over one hundred years of age.”

  [4] See object file for copy of undated Bluett and Sons, Ltd. invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, marked approved by the Secretary of the Smithsonian on March 1, 1977. The object is described as “1 Turkish pottery; Iznik (1625-1650); Ming blue and white style.” This work is part of the Museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated November 22, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Islamic Art (May 9, 1993 to June 3, 1997)

  Turkish Art (May 26, 1982 to June 24, 1982)

  Turkish Ceramics (September 24, 1982 to May 10, 1985)

  Turkish Art (November 1, 1980 to May 25, 1982)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

  Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Bluett and Sons, Ltd. (active 1884-1992)

• Origin

  Iznik, Turkey

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 04: Engaging the Senses

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1530s, 1520s

• Name

  Bluett and Sons, Ltd.

• Place

  Iznik

• Topic

  Iznik ware, Art, Ottoman period (1307 - 1922), Arts of the Islamic World, Stone-paste, Ceramics, Flowers

• Culture

  Muslims, Turks

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes