Dish

Unknown artist

1575-1580

fritware, underglazed and painted

Aga Khan Museum

A round, shallow ceramic dish decorated with intricate blue, green, and red patterns on a white background. The central motif features a stylized floral design surrounded by scale-like patterns. A round, shallow ceramic dish decorated with intricate blue, green, and red patterns on a white background. The central motif features a stylized floral design surrounded by scale-like patterns. Scaled patterns began appearing on Iznik ceramics in the mid-16th century. They seem to have two possible sources of influence: China and Italy. Scaled dragons on Ming Dynasty wares (1368–1644), Chinese celadon (green-glazed ware), and scaled motifs on Italian Majolica (1530s–50s) made their way into the hands of Ottoman artisans through strong trade networks spanning from Asia to the Mediterranean Sea. [1] The treatment of the scaled patter