AN OTTOMAN DAMASCUS POTTERY TILE WITH A LOTUS AND ARABESQUE MOTIF
Damascus, Ottoman Syria, 17th century

Of typical square shape, underglaze painted in cobalt blue, copper green, turquoise, manganese purple with black outlines on a white ground, decorated with interlace of stylised lotus flower heads, rosette sprays and cusped cartouches containing intricate arabesque patterns of split palmettes, framed within a dark stained wooden frame, the tile 26cm x 26cm, 38cm x 37.5cm including the frame.

For more information on Damascus pottery tiles, please see A. Millner, Damascus Tiles: Mamluk and Ottoman architectural ceramics from Syria, London, 2015. Similar pottery tiles with slightly different palettes have been successfully sold in these Rooms on 16 April 2021, lot 58 and at Sotheby's London, Online Only: Eclectic sale, 18 May 2020, lot 50.