Fritware jug, painted in black and blue and with a red slip under a transparent glaze

The red slip – called Armenian bole, which was introduced in workshops in Iznik in around 1560 – was used on this jug with a coloristic economy and an artistic force that are truly striking. The stylized tiger stripes – which together with the three spots comprise the classical chintamani pattern – hover all over the body of the jug like surrealistic lips. This pattern is found in different variations on Turkish textiles and tiles.

The red color was instrumental in liberating Ottoman ceramics from the overwhelming influence of blue and white Chinese porcelain.