Large Iznik ceramic dish - Lot 116

Large Iznik ceramic dish Siliceous paste with polychrome decoration under transparent colorless glaze Turkey, Iznik, early 17th century Diam. 30.5 cm Provenance: Galerie Joseph Soustiel (1904-1990) he worked in the bvd Haussmann gallery in Paris from 1935 until 1983. Ottoman ceramics from Iznik were originally referred to as Rhodes ceramics, after being found in large numbers in houses on the Greek island. Ottoman ceramists, working for the court on tile-laying projects for important buildings, also produced commercial shapes and plates for passing merchants, many of whom were Greek. These ceramics are decorated with flowers, kaleidoscopic patterns, animals, boats, ewers and figures. We know of a number of dishes featuring human figures, but it's exceptional to find one with two. Here, the figures are dark-skinned, as is the case on a dish in the Musée d'Ecouen collection (inv. E.Cl. 8389). Even if it's difficult to clearly identify their origin, their costumes are similar to those of certain figures commonly known as çengis or Koçek, designating dancers (words literally derived from the word harp for one and petit for the other, designating a young man). These dancers, whose roles could change gender and sex, had a strong erotic connotation. Initially practiced in the Palace, they were later highly appreciated by a larger part of Turkish society. These dancers, often of Greek, Gypsy, Jewish or Armenian origin, had the status of dhimmis. Here, they are holding two objects in their hands, which may resemble small percussion instruments. Above them is a bird surmounting a finial, and on either side, bouquets of flowers. The border is decorated with foliage. On the back, a label by Joseph Soustiel, a second with a black and white photo of the dish, and a third label, partly truncated and containing a description of the ceramic. Old restorations to the marli.