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Tankard (Hanap) with Tulips, Hyacinths, Roses, and Carnations

White ceramic cup with red and blue flowers and square handle.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • White ceramic cup with red and blue flowers and square handle.

Date:

Ottoman dynasty (1299–1923), Late 16th century

Artist:

Turkey
Iznik

About this artwork

This cylindrical tankard (hanap) is a fine example of the ceramics produced at Iznik (located southeast of Istanbul) during the late sixteenth century. Characterized by its white body fabric, brilliant transparent glaze, and distinct decoration, Iznik pottery represents one of the most technologically refined and aesthetically arresting traditions in the history of Islamic ceramics. Here the decoration consists of a motif of hyacinths and carnations, underscored with blue tulips and red roses. The artist fully realized the rhythmic potential of alternating floral forms, exploiting the tankard’s tall, cylindrical surface to create a feeling of motion. Though the Iznik tradition seems to have been intially inspired by imported Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, by the 1550s, Iznik pottery had been transformed. Working in collaboration with the imperial Ottoman atelier in Istanbul (nakkash-hane), Iznik potters helped to create a style that epitomized an empire and was eventually sought after far from Istanbul. The tulip and carnation motif was particularly popular and appears on book bindings, paper borders, and textiles made for the Ottoman court. The craze for tulips was not limited to ornament, however. The real flowers were cultivated in Istanbul’s gardens, and the bulbs were exported to Europe. The size of this tankard even suggests that it may have once been used as a flower vase, perhaps to hold the very blossoms it depicts.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Asia

Culture

Islamic

Title

Tankard (Hanap) with Tulips, Hyacinths, Roses, and Carnations

Place

Turkey (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1570–1599

Medium

Iznik ware, fritware with underglaze painting in blue, turquoise, red, and black

Dimensions

19.6 × 15 × 10.5 cm (7 3/4 × 5 7/8 × 4 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Mary Jane Gunsaulus Collection

Reference Number

1913.342

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/69109/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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