Two frieze tiles

Two frieze tiles

Turkey, Iznik, circa 1540

Rectangular siliceous ceramic with floral design in a cobalt blue monochrome. Stylized pomegranate and lotus flowers, as well as floral arabesques, make up the decoration commonly known as "hatayi". Glaze wear and chips. 18 x 27 cm and 19 x 26 cm These tiles are part of a well-known series once covering the walls of a bathhouse in Istanbul's Zeyrek district, the Çinili Hamam, built at the request of Ottoman admiral Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa (better known as Barbarossa), the famous naval commander of the Ottoman Empire. As Grand Admiral, Barbarossa had access to state resources to realize his building projects; thus, he was able to employ the famous court architect Sinan (d.1588) to design the tiles used for the building. These were probably designed by the royal workshop. The bathhouse was sold in the 19th century and, during restoration work, the remaining tiles were sold to a merchant called Ludovic Lupti, probably in 1874, who later sold them in Paris. The wear of the glaze on these tiles can be explained by the fact that they have been in a constantly damp place for centuries. For tiles from the same series, see collection of the Victoria and Albert museum, Inv. n°221-1896, Musée des Beaux Arts de Lyon, inv. D337-22 and 337-23. Provenance ; Jean-Charles Tauzin Collection (1889-1957) Formerly Ludovic Lupti, Paris, circa 1880 Two Iznik pottery border tiles, Turkey, circa 1540 These tiles are part of a well-known series that once covered the walls of a bathhouse in the Zeyrek district of Istanbul, the Çinili Hamam, built at the request of Ottoman admiral Barbaros Hayreddin Paşa (better known as Barbarossa), the famous naval commander of the Ottoman Empire. During restoration work of the bathhouse, the remaining tiles were sold to the merchant Ludovic Lupti, probably in 1874, who later sold them in Paris. The wear and tear of the glaze on these tiles can be explained by the fact that they were kept in a constantly damp place for centuries.