A large Iznik border tile with cintamani motifs, Turkey, circa 1560-70. Estimation 30,000 — 40,000 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's.

of rectangular form, decorated with underglaze cobalt blue, turquoise and relief red and outlined in black with a design of cintamani intersected by cloudbands, in between a red border; 17.2 by 31.6cm. 

Note: The present tile, with its profligate use of cobalt blue and bold cintamani design (from the Sanskrit term meaning 'precious jewel'), suggests a prestigious commission. Border tiles with a similar design adorn the apartment of the Sacred Mantle and the Library of Ahmed III in the Topkapi Palace. Another almost identical tile is in the Ömer M. Koç collection (see Bilgi 2009, p.159, no.69).

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World, Londres, 22 avr. 2015