Iznik Ceramics: History and Present-Day

Abstract

Iznik is an important production centre in the history of ceramic art. In the 15th – 16th century, following the establishment of the Ottoman Empire, the name of Iznik became famous throughout the world due to the development of a ceramics production. Iznik ceramics represent an amazing technical innovation in the history of Turkish ceramic art. Combining the Ottoman style with external influences from China, Asia, the Balkans and even Europe, Iznik vessels and tiles reached their peak within the Ottoman ceramic art. The courtʼs patronage stimulated and supported the development of an artistically and technically advanced ceramic industry in Iznik. In this study, the specific production and decoration pecularities of Iznik ceramics that are found in some of the written documents are introduced. Accordingly, it is intended to put forward the change and the transformations which are seen in present-day production and decoration techniques.