Two Suleymaniye enamel dishes - Lot 324

Two Suleymaniye enamel dishes Copper, polychrome enamel and gold Turkey, Istanbul, 19th century D. 13 and 13.2 cm These two dishes imitate European porcelain, reflecting the Ottoman desire to draw inspiration from the Western art of living. They are made in "Suleymaniye", a technique of polychrome and gold enamel on copper. The term comes from the name of Istanbul's Suleymaniye mosque, which was close to the workshops that produced this type of piece. The bowls, one yellow and the other celadon, are decorated with polychrome and gold floral motifs and feature bouquets of flowers on a white background in cartouches. The inside of the dishes is also in porcelain-like white enamel, with a bouquet in the center. A gilded flower motif decorates the underside.