Border Tiles with 'Saz' Leaf Design
These two fragmentary pieces are examples of "blue and white" Iznik tiles. The decoration presents a linear repeating pattern: a pair of feathery saz leaves grows out on the sides of a rosette-flower formed with ten multi-lobed petals. Little flowers in white and turquoise are painted over the two main motifs in dark blue. They follow the circular design of the rosette and enhance the spiral-like movement of the saz leaves.
These tiles were produced in a period when the ceramic workshops of Iznik acted as an industrial-like production center in the sixteenth century. In fact, it was under Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66) and particularly from the 1550s onwards, that the increased building activity in the Ottoman capital Istanbul, and other cities and places, demanded a massive tile fabrication in order to decorate and embellish the walls of monuments.
These tiles were produced in a period when the ceramic workshops of Iznik acted as an industrial-like production center in the sixteenth century. In fact, it was under Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66) and particularly from the 1550s onwards, that the increased building activity in the Ottoman capital Istanbul, and other cities and places, demanded a massive tile fabrication in order to decorate and embellish the walls of monuments.
Artwork Details
- Title: Border Tiles with 'Saz' Leaf Design
- Date: 16th century
- Geography: Attributed to Turkey, Iznik
- Medium: Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
- Dimensions: Tile a: H. 6 11/16 in. (17 cm)
W. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm)
D. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)
Tile b: H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
W. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
D. 1 in. (2.5 cm) - Classification: Ceramics-Tiles
- Credit Line: Bequest of Adrienne Minassian, 1994
- Object Number: 1997.307a, b
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 1545–55
last quarter 16th century
ca. 1545–60
ca. 1540–50
ca. 1565–70
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.