Dish (Tabaq) with Scale Pattern and Serrated Leaves Ottoman dynasty (1299–1923), late 16th century

Editor: This is an amazing ceramic dish called "Dish (Tabaq) with Scale Pattern and Serrated Leaves," dating back to the late 16th century during the Ottoman dynasty. I love the fish scale pattern! What are your thoughts on it? Curator: You know, when I look at this piece, I think of gardens. Not orderly European gardens, but something wilder, almost an underwater garden, wouldn't you agree? The 'scales,' as you call them, they ripple, mimicking the movement of water, while those serrated leaves burst forth like some fantastical aquatic plant. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but I see it now! The colours too – turquoise, cobalt blue, it does give a watery vibe. Curator: Indeed. This plate probably wasn’t just sitting pretty, gathering dust. Can you imagine food presented on that canvas, with these blues creating a vibrant dining experience? A bit like art, even your dinner needed to engage the senses, to tell a story. Food as theatre! It's Ottoman aesthetic sensibility meeting practical life. What else jumps out at you? Editor: The tiny flowers along the rim, they remind me of Iznik pottery, like little jewels embedded into the ceramic. So, is the imagery meaningful or is it purely decoration? Curator: Ah, that's the delicious part about art. Maybe both? Meaning is, more often than not, what you bring to the table (pun intended!). But seriously, floral motifs in Islamic art, particularly during the Ottoman period, often evoke paradise, or a space of otherworldly beauty. So maybe this dish really does offer a slice of heaven? Or maybe they were simply following trends; that would take away from the beauty any less, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Wow. Now when I look at this dish, I can almost feel myself being transported! Curator: Exactly! And isn’t that the true power of art - this object made so many years ago still sparking feelings and visions today. A journey in a dish.