Plate with a Floral Motif

The production of pottery flourished in Iznik, a town in northwest Turkey, from the end of the 15th century. This kind of earthenware was often painted with designs of tulips, carnations, hyacinths, and roses. The bright red colour is also a technical tour de force. The border with a wave-scroll motif is derived from Chinese porcelain. Iznik ware was a source of inspiration for European potteries in Italy and the Netherlands (Delft), among other places.