Tile

The white paste tile is painted over white slip under a transparent glaze in cobalt blue, green and brick red with black outlining. A symmetric composition consisting of two birds resembling parrots flanking a paradise spring (selsebil) containing hyacinths is encircled by stylised composite blossoms and serrated curving leaves. Tiles with similar designs can be seen in the Paris Louvre Museum and in the Freer Art Gallery in Washington (See Atıl, 1973: p.191, no.88).References: Bonhams 2001: Islamic and Indian Art, London, 2 May 2001, no.491; Bilgi, H., Reunited after centuries, Works of art restored to Turkey by the Sadberk Hanım Museum, Istanbul 2005 p.84, no.32, 456; Bilgi, H., Dance of Fire, İznik Tiles and Ceramics in the Sadberk Hanım Museum and Ömer M. Koç Collections, Sadberk Hanım Museum Publication, Istanbul 2009, p. 456.