Persian-Turkish Faience Plate with Spiraling Floral Design – Julius Lessing 1890
€ 340
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1890
Mapmaker / artist
Julius Lessing, Berlin, 1890
Technique
Chromolithograph
Sheet size
49 × 33 cm (19.3 × 13.0 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14139-13
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Excellent condition, full margins, and clean paper. Minimal edge toning consistent with age, no tears or foxing. The colors remain vivid and well-preserved.
About this sheet
Persian-Turkish Faience Plate with Spiraling Floral Design – Julius Lessing, Berlin 1890 A superb chromolithograph from Persisch-Türkische Fayencen (Persian-Turkish Faience), published in Berlin by Ernst Wasmuth in 1890 as part of Vorbilder-Hefte aus dem Königlichen Kunstgewerbe-Museum, Heft 11. This edition, edited by Julius Lessing, features a 16th–17th century Persian-Turkish faience plate from the Royal Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin (Kgl. Kunstgewerbe-Museum Berlin).
The design, masterfully rendered by Max Koch, presents a vibrant and symmetrical floral pattern characteristic of Ottoman faience from Iznik, with a richly colored palette of sage green, turquoise, coral red, and cream. The central rosette radiates outward into four elegantly spiraling tendrils filled with stylized tulips, carnations, and cloud-shaped leaves, forming a balanced and dynamic circular rhythm. The border, decorated with interlaced red and white motifs, adds an architectural harmony that frames the organic vitality of the interior.
This plate exemplifies the artistic refinement of Iznik workshops at their height during the 16th and early 17th centuries. Persian influence is evident in the floral arabesques and the rhythmic geometry, while the Ottoman aesthetic reveals itself in the bold color contrasts and precise craftsmanship. Faience of this type adorned both palatial interiors and religious settings, symbolizing abundance, renewal, and divine beauty.
Printed by Verlag Lith. Druck von Ernst Wasmuth, Berlin, this chromolithograph was part of Lessing’s effort to document and disseminate the artistic heritage of Islamic and Oriental ceramics. These plates, distributed to artists and designers throughout Europe, played a vital role in the revival of ornamental design during the late 19th century.
Condition report: Excellent condition, full margins, and clean paper. Minimal edge toning consistent with age, no tears or foxing. The colors remain vivid and well-preserved.
Framing tips: This plate pairs beautifully with other Iznik-inspired designs. Best framed with a cream or light gray mat and a mahogany or gilt frame to enhance the deep greens and reds.
