Iznik Tiles
Ottoman Ceramic Masters
Iznik pottery, produced in the town of Iznik (ancient Nicaea) during the height of the Ottoman Empire, is among the most celebrated ceramic traditions in the world. The tiles are renowned for their brilliant coral-red underglaze — a color achieved by adding a special slip containing iron oxide and quartz, which produced a raised, tomato-red that seemed to glow. This "Iznik red" was developed in the mid-16th century and became the signature of the finest pieces. Designs featured stylized tulips, carnations, hyacinths, and arabesque scrolls in cobalt blue, turquoise, and green, set against a white ground. These tiles line the interior walls of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul (giving it its name), the Topkapi Palace, and countless mosques and tombs across the former Ottoman Empire. The quality of Iznik ware declined after the 17th century as the pottery masters died and their recipes were lost. The secret of the distinctive Iznik red has never been fully replicated despite modern efforts. Surviving tiles and vessels are now among the most prized objects in Islamic art collections worldwide.
Look Closer — Tips for This Artwork
- 1Find the raised tomato-red — Iznik red sits on top of the glaze like a relief, and in a raking light you can see its texture.
- 2Count the flowers: tulips, carnations and hyacinths were the Ottoman garden translated into ceramic.
- 3Notice the white ground: it is a tin glaze that made the cobalt blue look brighter than any earlier Islamic tilework.
- 4Look for small variations between tiles — each was hand-painted, so no two are identical.
