Hand made and hand painted plates, bowls and tiles from Kutahya

Ceramics have been produced in the Anatolian region of Turkey for thousands of years but the industry burgeoned when in 16th Cent. the Ottoman army conquered Persia and the skilled tile makers were relocated to Kutayha and Iznik.. From this time Kutayha made some of the finest tiles and were highly in demand throughout the Middle East for mosques, churches and buildings of esteem. Ceramics from the area have been admired for their strength, glazes and design through the centuries and following the growth of the industry in Kutayha the colours of the glazes intensified and the designs became more complex and intricate. Although tiles are not used as much for buildings now, the tradition of making ceramics continues, with the same techniques of hand making and moulding on the wheel being applied to make bowls, plates and vases decorated with distinctive stylised motifs of flowers such as the tulip, carnation, tree of life, or barques on the waves in which fish are in abundance.
These ceramics are all handmade and painted. The glaze is lead free so is safe for food. For the care of these plates and bowls we recommend washing by hand.