Botany · 19th century
€ 340
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Excellent preservation with crisp lines and rich, even coloration. Slight toning and faint handling traces in the margins. Image area pristine and well-centered.
Persian-Turkish Faience Plate with Tulip and Artichoke Motif – Julius Lessing, Berlin 1890
An exquisite chromolithograph from Julius Lessing’s Persisch-Türkische Fayencen (Persian-Turkish Faience), published by Ernst Wasmuth, Berlin, in 1890. Issued as part of Vorbilder-Hefte aus dem Königlichen Kunstgewerbe-Museum, Heft 11, this print reproduces a 16th–17th-century ceramic plate from the collection of the Royal Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin.
The composition presents a symmetrical floral design dominated by three striking blue artichoke-like blossoms flanked by tulips and carnations, rising elegantly from a leafy base. These motifs are enclosed by a border of curling blue vines and stylized lotus forms, characteristic of Iznik pottery and Persian faience from the classical Ottoman era. The plate’s delicate harmony of form and color—muted blues, pale greens, and coral reds—reflects the refined aesthetics of Islamic ceramic art at its height.
Such pieces were admired for their balance between geometry and naturalism, representing the spiritual symbolism of nature within Islamic art. The plate’s stylized botanical ornament exemplifies the cross-cultural artistry that flourished under the Safavid and Ottoman empires, blending Persian influence with Turkish ceramic craftsmanship.
This lithograph was drawn by Max Koch and printed under the supervision of Julius Lessing (1843–1908), the visionary director of the Königliches Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin. Lessing’s *Vorbilder-Hefte* series was a landmark project intended to preserve and disseminate world decorative traditions, influencing European art education and the development of Art Nouveau design.
Condition report:
Excellent preservation with crisp lines and rich, even coloration. Slight toning and faint handling traces in the margins. Image area pristine and well-centered.
Framing tips:
A light ivory mat with a narrow blue or teal inner border will beautifully enhance the delicate color balance. A giltwood or walnut frame will emphasize the artwork’s refined historic elegance, perfect for display alongside other faience plate designs.
Technique: Chromolithograph
Maker: Julius Lessing, Berlin, 1890
