Iznik Garnet Necklace

Necklace inspired by an Iznik motif on a container with a lid kept in the Louvre museum.

Container with lid
Turkey, Iznik, circa 1585
Siliceous paste, decoration painted on engobe under transparent glaze
H. : 27 cm; D.: 24 cm
Musée du Louvre, deposit of the Musée de Cluny, 1926
OA 7880/101

In the 1580s, red in relief occupied large areas on a series of very diverse objects, the majority of which were dishes and mugs. This large bowl with lid is representative of the use of this very present and spectacular red that stands out very strongly against a bright white background. The decoration of this family of objects generally lacks delicacy and finesse in execution, but this relative weakness is compensated for by the monumentality that this decoration with its powerful and highly contrasting colours confers on the pieces.