Lot 232. A Kütahya double-sided polychrome pottery tile, Turkey, 17th-18th century, 15.8 by 12.7 by 1cm. Estimate 6,000 — 8,000 GBP. Photo Sotheby's.
of rectangular form, decorated in underglaze green, dark blue, yellow, mauve and relief red with black outlines, one side featuring two snakes between four fish within a rock and foliate border, the other side with vase from which emanates a floral bouquet between two large snakes.
Note: It is extremely unusual to find double-sided Kütahya pottery tile such as the present example. One can infer from the two drill holes along one of its vertical edges and the slightly slant along two sides that it must have been fitted into a frame, possibly on a latch in order to view both facets. The motifs depicted, notably a floral bouquet, snakes and fish, including a snake with multiple heads, are more difficult to decipher, but may be reminiscent of Christian symbols.
Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World, London, 26 Apr 2017, 10:30 AM
