Antique Kütahya Pottery Icon Tile Armenian Virgin Mary & Child Jesus Turkey 1820

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An important 19th century Kütahya pottery icon tile of The Virgin Mary and Christ Child, Turkey circa 1850.
The tile … Read more An important 19th century Kütahya pottery icon tile of The Virgin Mary and Christ Child, Turkey circa 1850.
The tile most likely made for the Christian Armenian community in the Western Turkish city of Kütahya, famous for fine pottery and tile making by Christian Armenians. This panel is composed of a single tile depicting the icon of Virgin Mary holding child Jesus. The Virgin Mary is painted purple, yellow, green, red and underglaze blue. On her covered head she is wearing a crown, surrounded by an illuminating halo. The child Jesus is seated on the Virgin Mary’s lap and is depicted with black hair and an illuminating halo with a cross and the infant's hand resting on a bible.
The tile is in very good condition, no damage or restoration, an almost identical tile in size and design is housed in the collection of the Pera Museum Istanbul Turkey, and listed in their collection as seen below.
The tile was acquired by owners in Jerusalem circa 1920, it has passed by descent in the family since.

Icon, 19th century
Ceramic
10 × 8 1/10 in 25.4 × 20.7 cm
Pera Museum
Istanbul See less