Hexagonal tile fragment with blue and white decoration, Turkey, Iznik, first half of the 16th century Siliceous ceramic decorated with a network of plant stems decorated with composite flowers and bifid palmettes in cobalt blue and turquoise. 21 x 11 cm Cut fragment, traces of coating, paste glaze, soiling, slight chips. This tile fragment most likely comes from the Çinili Hamam built in Istanbul (1540-46) by the famous Ottoman architect Sinan for Admiral Khayr Ed-din Pasa otherwise known as Barbarossa. The matte appearance of the glaze is believed to be the result of prolonged exposure of the tile to the hot fumes of the hammam. Several of the tiles from this hammam are now preserved in public collections such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon (D 337-18) or the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (e.g. n°686-1892). A Fritware Blue-and-White Tile Fragment, Turkey, Iznik, first half of 16th century